Open up! Reveal yourself! Admit that you might be struggling with a problem
or two today. If there is anything that will help, it is the admission that it is there
and facing up to what it is. Paul did that in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Paul said that
he "besought the Lord thrice" to have Him remove a problem, but the Lord didn't.
("Thrice", now there's a word we don't use today.) Three times he went in prayer
and his answer was for him to recognize it and use it to his advantage. "My grace
is sufficient for you...", verse 9 tells us. Paul could have been a bit elevated
because of what he had become. He was a strong follower of Jesus and he
went about doing good.
We don't know what Paul's "thorn-in-the-flesh" was but the Lord told him to keep
on keeping on and that He would take care of the rest. He said, in essence, it will
keep you level-headed. Our problem can be our greatest strength if we turn it over
to the Lord. It can be the one thing that may keep us focused on the fact that
Philippians 4:13 reminds us of: "I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me." Remember the "eth" suffix means it continues on and on.
Open up and face up to the fact that you are not perfect, but you can carry on with
Him as your guide and shield.
