Could It Be?
Could It Be?—That “IT”—Is Not Really About Us (At All)—But About GOD!
Have we ever said these words:
- I want IT & God I would like IT right now.
OR
- I want THIS to occur, God, & It would be so wonderful if THIS could happen today.
OR WHAT ABOUT
- God, please take THAT situation from my path, from my life, from my mind, & God, please take THAT away as quick as You can.
OR IT COULD BE
- Lord, can You straighten out WHAT is causing me to miss sleep, & Lord, straighten it (like) yesterday.
Every person alive has “something” they must deal with, “something” that they would just love to disappear from their lives. In the Bible, Paul was just like us; he too had a situation a health concern (one that we are not really sure what) but, nevertheless, an issue that really got in his way.
We cannot see, nor were we told WHAT Paul suffered to endure, though, when we look at Paul’s “thorn,” should help us see the greater focus of the truth found within this Scripture.
The apostle Paul was intentionally vague about the “WHAT” he suffered to endure because Paul’s point in his letter written to the believers at Corinth was not about the “WHAT” but more about the “HOW” God was going to work through him as Paul endured this situation.
We find in the Word of God: the Apostle Paul reminds us ‘why’ we can suffer with a thorn in the flesh.
Together, let us be reminded.
“Because of the extraordinary greatest of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!”
(2 Corinthians 12: 7 NASB)
So, Paul prayed, asking God to take that “thorn” from his side (and no, Paul did not just have a big splinter poking him in his ribs—funny thought I know), but in reality, this “thorn” was more of a large stake of annoyance. This “thorn” was a present reality, a prolonged pain, and a sustained problem. Paul was really plagued by “this thorn,” so, he did what he knew would help his situation: He prayed to the Great Physician.
“Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.”
(2 Corinthians 12: 8 NASB)
Could It Be?—That “IT”—Is Not Really About Us (At Al)l—But About GOD!
- For you & In you & Through you—to affect others.
- For me & In me & Through me—to affect others.
- For us & In us & Through us—to affect others.
Every believer who walks the face of the earth has a part in helping others to know and to understand the one true God. This is an amazing fact & an awesome responsibility. God truly blesses our lives, so that His blessings will bless others.
Even true, at times God will withhold something we seek, that which we really want—in order for His higher purpose to be accomplished.
Quite possibly, God may allow us to walk through a painful time so that others can see us traverse through this season, see how we lean and wait upon the Lord, and ultimately come to know the Lord Jesus as their Savior.
Paul received an answer to his “thorn,” to his prayer lifted.
“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
(2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 NASB)
Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
A melody, one we have heard time and again by the Christian band Unspoken, is appropriately titled “You’ve Always Been.” The lyrics speak to this truth: Could It Be That It’s Not About Us, But About God Living In & Through You & Me!
“You’ve Been—
My Savior, Sustainer when I’m at my end.
My healer, Redeemer—again & again.
My mother & my father, brother, sister, and friend.
Everything I’ve Needed—LORD—You’ve always Been!”
“You’ve Always Been.”
Notice how the apostle mentions, not once but twice—“to keep me from exalting myself!”
- God is not the author of evil but of ALL that is GOOD.
- God is capable of doing ANYTHING HE wants to do.
Paul wrote in his letter to the church to describe the suffering he was required to endure, telling us how he asked God not once, not twice, but three times for “THIS THORN” to be taken away from his life.
Since we are told how the Apostle Paul repeatedly asked for “THIS THORN” to be taken away, it is true that “THIS THORN” was given to the Paul from power and might of Almighty God.
Instead of taking away “THIS THORN” Almighty God granted Paul—Sustaining Grace to Endure!
Could It Be “WHAT” we are given to endure Is Not Really About Us (At Al) But—About GOD!
&
Could It Be that our “Suffering” Is Not About Our Healing (At All) But—About God Living In & Through Us!
&
Could It Be that our “Situation” Is Not About Our Comfort (At All) But—About God Living In & Through Us!
Yes, Could It Be?
May we be reminded where we are to place our eyes.
Let us not place our eyes upon:
- our “situation,” or
- our “health concern” or
- our “marriage woe” or
- our “struggle with our child” or
- our “issue on the job” or
- our “whatever we are having to endure”
BECAUSE COULD IT BE, IT IS NOT ABOUT US—BUT ABOUT
- HELPING OTHERS SEE OUR JESUS!
BECAUSE COULD IT BE, WHAT WE ARE SUFFERING WITH IS NOT ABOUT US—BUT ABOUT
- HELPING OTHERS SEE OUR JESUS LIVING IN & THROUGH US!
BECAUSE COULD IT BE, OUR LIFE SITUATION IS NOT ABOUT US—BUT ABOUT
- HELPING OTHERS SEE HOW OUR JESUS WALKS WITH US THROUGHOUT WHATEVER IT IS WE MUST ENDURE!
BECAUSE COULD IT BE, OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT ABOUT US—BUT ABOUT
- HELPING OTHERS COME TO SEE OUR JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR!
The psalmist helps us put everything into the correct perspective, so let’s read the words together.
“God be gracious to us and bless us,
(Psalm 67: 1-7 NASB)
And cause His face to shine
upon us— Selah
That Your way may be
known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.
May the nations be glad
and sing for joy;
For You will judge the
peoples with fairness
And guide the nations
on the earth. Selah
May the peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.
The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
God blesses us,
So that all the ends of the
earth may fear Him.”
Today, may we be reminded where we are to place our eyes.
- Let us keep our eyes fixed upon The Light of the world.
- Let us keep our eyes fixed upon The Bread of Life.
- Let us keep our eyes fixed upon The True Vine.
- Let us keep our eyes fixed upon The WayMaker!
- Let us keep our eyes fixed upon The Great Physician.
- Let us keep our eyes fixed upon Our Sustainer, Redeemer, Savior, & Friend!
- Let us keep our eyes fixed upon—JESUS!