I am reminded of a song that grips my heart when I hear the words, “When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.” Maybe the reason the song touches my heart so much is because I really can trace His hand on my life. When I hear the words and reflect on the past, I can see clearly His hand orchestrating the circumstances of my life.
Sometimes the thorns of life blind us to the beauty of the rose. I was surrounded by thorns in my early life. I was blinded to any beauty life had to offer in its’ present circumstances, or to any hope the future might hold. Like a tapestry, God is weaving each of us to reflect His image. Thorns sometimes are needful and often we can’t see the reason why; for while we see only the present difficult circumstances, the Master sees the beginning and the end. His ways are always best.
The Apostle Paul was known to bear a “thorn in the flesh” [II Corinthians 12:7]. He asked that it might be taken from him; but it was not. In verse 9, God says, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Possibly the thorn, some physical infirmity, was given to keep him humble and dependent on God. Through his denial of self, he was able to accomplish much through the power of Christ on his life.
I, too, have a “thorn in the flesh.” It has defined my life; kept me humble and totally dependent on God. Whether the thorn was at Satan’s hand or in God’s perfect will doesn’t really matter. God has used this physical weakness to demonstrate His power through my life. Because I know all too well my own limitations and shortcomings, I can see clearly the power of God working through me. I can honestly say I thank God for this thorn; because of it, I can live for Christ and not myself.
By the grace of God, in upcoming posts I want to share how this thorn came to be; how it defined my life; and most importantly, how God is using it for His glory. Apart from God, I can do nothing. If therefore, there is any blessing to be received; any good to come through this blog, it is through the power of the Holy Spirit working out God’s plan through me.
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