Hinderances are a pain, they keep me from doing what I want to get done. Paul called his hinderance “a thorn in his side.” No one has ever figured out exactly what that meant, but we’ve all have had something at sometime that hindered us.
Recently I suffered from a dangerous eye malady called schleritis ( painful!). It was the first time a long while that I’ve had any physical ailment, other than childbirth. No clue as to where this came from or what it was, I simply had severe pain in my face that would not go away. As it grew worse over my sinus area, Urgent Care was stumped. My husband called his ophthalmologist sent him a photo and and I was seen on a Sunday afternoon.
What we thought was a bloodshot eye, the doctor recognized as a significant symptom. Diagnosis confirmed and medication given, my eye was saved. I soon felt better. The why’s continued as another doctor tested for all things autoimmune… negative. How long would I have this? Was it curable? I began to think a lot about: hinderances and thorns. I realized, it was the pain that made me seek help. The illness magnified my inability to help myself. This thorn became the thing that made me seek for answers. Pain offers so room for pride, its a quest at all cost for relief.
What a thought! I’ve heard countless stories and songs that say something similar. Yet I was amazed anew… God uses everything! Every little pain and irritant for my good. He draws me closer with it. He offers me strength and grace through it. And when my weakness is evident again, those Everlasting Arms are guaranteed and pride is drowned. Ah, the contentment in knowing He cares and is never out of control.
“When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence.” James 1:2-4
God, thank You for the hindrances that come every day into my life. Big or small, I love that You always have a plan and a point! I can’t imagine the task of trying to mature and complete me. Thank You for taking that on and for never giving up.
ForGlorySake! – Anna
Thanks for sharing! What a reminder it was in reading this. Always makes me think too God only puts us thru what we can handle.