The Thorn

“Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient?”  This quote from the movie Evan Almighty painstakingly sticks in my brain.  There are times I think I am being trained for super patience as I seem to have my limit tested time and time again, over long periods of time. You remember that 70X7 thing?  Yeah, we are way passed that 490 and I haven’t even gotten any asking of forgiveness.  I am finding out how much lieth in me to live peaceably with all men.  Just when I think I am at the end, I have to ask for a little more.
For 8 long years I have had a co-worker who has hated my guts without a cause.  8 years of under the breath snide remarks, provocations, head shaking, arm flailing, using the Lords name in vain, refusal of any cooperation, passive aggressive bologna.  During that time, the job has done next to nothing about it, nor can I take matters into my own hands, which I have been tempted to do on a number of occasions.  He just gets away with it and I have to take it.

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.  We get quoted passages like this often, but it can be really really difficult to rest in the Lord when someone is actively and constantly trying to lay snares for you, trying to provoke you or accuse you of untrue things to try and ruin you life and cause you to lose your livelihood.  We are not talking just simple annoyance.  Waiting patiently has to be supernatural, because I don’t think I have any left.

It is our natural inclination to strike back, to defend ourselves.  I have to quote to myself scripture about Jesus saying to turn the other cheek (Mathew 5:39) and how vengeance is the Lord’s (Romans 12:19) to keep myself from taking matters into my own hands and doing something wicked myself.  Whatever the lesson here, can I please learn it and move on? 

2 Corinthians 12:7: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure”.

The Apostle Paul seemed to have one of these people in his life too.  Paul seemed to look at it as a way to keep himself humble.  I can understand that in a way.  When we get angry over someone calling us a name, or making a false accusation, the feeling we have of needing to lash out at them or “get even” is pride.  When our personal character or integrity is attacked, our pride gets hurt.  Getting mad or upset at that just reveals the pride still inside.  Recognizing that pride, I can then deal with it, and humble myself before the Lord, giving Him way for Him to take care of the situation. 

humble thyself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up, higher and higher, and he shall lift you up.