First the thorn and then the rose…
Romans 7:18-20
I know there is nothing good in my sinful nature. I want to do what is good, but I can’t. I don’t do the good things I want to do. I keep on doing the evil things I don’t want to do. I do what I don’t want to do.
Just like Paul, I struggle with a thorn. Now it is not a big thorn but it is a thorn, nonetheless. And by “thorn†I mean “something that I have asked forgiveness for in the past, but find myself doing againâ€. Some may think my thorn is silly, but still I get frustrated in having to deal with the same thing over and over. Why do we keep struggling with the same thing? You would think the first time the Lord dealt with it, it would be over and done with. Lesson learned. But no, I guess I have short term memory. Lord when will I learn? I know it is not by my strength that I am successful, but by Yours.
Oswald Chambers said, “God never gives strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the minute.†As a woman that likes things planned out, organized, and written on the calendar, this is a difficult concept. And the Lord has been doing that to me…only giving me enough “insight†for the moment. He is stretching me.
But Thou art making me, I thank Thee, sire. What Thou hast done and doest Thou knows’t well. And I will help Thee; gently in Thy fire I will lie burning; on Thy potter’s wheel I will whirl patient, though my brain should reel. Thy grace shall be enough the grief to quell, And growing strength perfect through weakness dire. –George MacDonald –Diary Of an Old Soul, October 2
Dear Father, thank you Jesus that you are big enough to forgive me over and over. I thank you that you are there moment by moment. I stand on your promise that you will be there to give me strength. I love you Jesus. Amen
I’m always overwhelmed when I think of how forgiving God is about my thorn. The quote by Oswald Chambers is pretty powerful!
Blessings~
Sometimes I wonder if we’re separated twins…. I greatly wish God would take my thorn completely away once and for all, but perhaps he allows it to remain so I don’t forget Him. If it was gone, I am afraid maybe I would be self-sufficient and proud and wouldn’t give him another thought….
Love that MacDonald quote…”And growing strength perfect through weakness dire”. As John the Baptist said, “He must increase, I must decrease.” Beautiful thought for a beautiful Saturday…Thanks Laurel!
This was so very beautiful, thanks for sharing.
Oh Laurel-I love that passage! I have never seen it before. Thank you so much for point it out to me.
I am like you…..I have a thorn…..I struggle with sin……and frankly I am frustrated about it but God in his infinite wisdom gives me thorns to keep me humble and keep me looking to him when all my strength is gone…..all I can do is take each day and look to the Lord for my strength to face my thorn….be encouraged my friend…you are not alone! Funny thing is I was reading that same passage of scripture this morning…..
Blessings
Oh Laurel, you and I are so much alike. I too struggle with the sin and wonder why God continues to forgive me for the same thing over and over again. But He is God and I’m not. If we were to never commit that sin again, would we need Him?
Blessings to you my sweet sister in Christ!
Laurel, I think that we all have thorn that keeps ‘poking’ us. I know I have. I want just get rid of it, but I think that it will keep me in line…
Blessings to your day and always.