Wow! This week was challenging to say the least. We have really dug deep to some things that bother us or keep us in bondage or simply make us not what God wants us to be. As I began really thinking about thorns in my life this week I thought about the difference between those things that I can change and those that I cannot. Like...what is it that I am holding on to and how do I react to it when it "pricks" me? I really liked something that Angela said this week about how our thorn(s) build our character. I absolutely think it's true. For those things, people, or situations in our life that we cannot change, how do we deal with them? I know I have failed miserably putting the best foot forward and having a godly attitude when I feel hurt and injured by these thorns.
One of my favorite things that Angela says this week is on page 43 when she says, "I also don't think that every bad thing or every inconvenience is the work of a demon. We live in a fallen world, and people make mistakes. Even really good people do dumb things that result in negative consequences." I would go even further and say that bad things happen to us even when we don't do anything wrong. We can trip and fall and break our face and we may not have done anything wrong. We can get cancer and die and the fact is that we live in a fallen world and death is a part of that because we cannot live forever in this state.
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:12-13
So, maybe God is trying to teach us something from our thorns. God is changing our focus to Him instead of our hurt and discomfort. Next time your thorn "pokes" you in just the right wrong way, instead of grumbling and wondering what in the world to do next, why don't we focus on what God is trying to show us. Look at the situation from a different perspective and just as Angela describes in the last section - ask God to show you how He would like you to grow and surrender your thorn to Him.
I love you, my sisters! :)
This is the first time I've seen the blog and I can tell you that the 'thorns' in our lives will prick us more than we would like to think. We can ignore them, as I used to until just recently, but they won't go away. The sting of the thorn prick becomes too much to handle and God is truly the one who forces us, when we are His children, to bring it to Him; He is the only way we can ever think about taking it out of our side. My 'thorn' has been unforgiveness of my earthly Dad and just recently God has brought me to what true forgiveness can mean in our lives. Yes, the 'thorns' make up our character; it did mine and shaped me in ways that were very hard to see. I made soooo many mistakes in relationships, which was the central part of the 'thorn.' HOWEVER, as I am finding out, like true repentance frees you from sin - true forgiveness does the same. It feels awesome to be free; something that I've known very little of in my life. Ladies, don't carry the 'thorn' around with you, it will tie you to it so snugly...it is not worth it. Whatever it is, give it to Him before you get too old to enjoy your life. Jesus said: Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free...
ReplyDeleteGood quote, "The brave woman is learning to trust in the God who allows a thorn to pierce His beloved." p 45 I have had to learn a lot about God's sufficient grace the hard way. When I look back on the past few years when I was struggling with a thorn I know that it built my character and my faith. But my tendency is to feel guilty that I wasn't a stronger christian to handle it more gracefully. I know that is wrong. Dependence on God is the only way to get through life gracefully! Kimberly
ReplyDeleteWithout my thorn I would not have ministry opportunities I have had and my relationship with Jesus wouldn't be as strong as it is. I will gladly keep my thorn as long as it spurs my devotion to Jesus to become stronger. Our camp worship leader said "No matter how many steps you take away from God, He is one step behind you waiting to catch you. " I see God's faithfulness through the pain of my thorn.
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