Thorn in the flesh

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I have always had chronic headaches and pretty much struggled with them until the pregnancy of my fifth child in which they disappeared. This past year, they returned and returned with a vengeance. They actual reappeared when I began this blog. They have caused me a lot of pain and sleeplessness and I’ve spent much time praying for them to leave me as they did before but it has not happened.

For me, I refer to them as my thorn in the flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7) Now don’t get me wrong, I would never compare myself to Paul and the afflictions that he suffered but I do believe that Satan uses things to distract us from God and His will for our lives and for me, this is my distraction. It’s what Satan uses in hopes that I will walk away and give up on what it is I feel that God is leading me to do.

I spent many days praying for relief and waiting for some kind of an answer. Now I know God has heard me because in the mean time, He has clearly answered several other requests that I have laid before Him so here is what He is teaching me at the moment.

To wait on Him. His ways are not my ways and His timing is not my timing. He does not always answer prayers when we would like them answered. He allows all things so that they may bring glory and honor to Him.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

His grace is enough. I have had to learn the importance of Corinthians 12:9-10. He has become my strength because on my own, I can not accomplish the things He has set before me. My writing has continued amongst the pain of my headaches because I am doing it through His strength and not my own.

Be thankful always. I have learned to be thankful for the circumstances in which I am placed. He has a will for my life and if this is part of His plan then I can surly endure the pain of a headache if Christ had to endure the cross for my salvation.

Be joyous always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

What would you consider your “thorn in the flesh” to be? What distracts you from experiencing God? Is it chronic pain, a broken relationship, a hurtful past or a difficult decision you have to make? Satan will always throw things at us so that our eyes are diverted from the One who has a plan for our life. There is nothing that he wants more than to see us focus on ourselves and the “pain” that we are in at the moment but when we turn our eyes upon Christ and totally rely on Him, we then experience a rest and peace that comes from knowing His strength.

“Father, help release me of the distractions of this world so that I may not give up on what it is You have me do. Help me to recognize Your will in my life and that my temporary pains are nothing when compared to a life spent in eternity with You. Keep me focused on the road You have set before me and teach me rejoice in every circumstance.”

Written by Nicole