Sometimes God allows certain debilitating sin or an embarrassing circumstance in our lives to keep us hanging onto Him.

This is what God did with Paul in 2 Cor. 12:7. God knew that Paul might become conceited because of his talents and gifts, and therefore to keep him in check, gave him a “thorn in the flesh.” The scholars argue forever as to what that thorn in the flesh might have been. Some think it was a certain type of physical deformity. Others think it might have been a debilitating temptation Paul was under. But I believe God in his infinite wisdom did not reveal exactly what it was so that whatever our “thorn in the flesh” might be, we could identify.

God is THAT concerned about keeping us hanging onto Him. He will take away anything from or throw anything at lives if it means that we will keep seeking him and going back to Him. This means your hardship right now might be God’s way of keeping you close to Him. Without it, you might not continue in God. You might become self-reliance and completely lost to God. Yes, your life might become trouble-free, but you will be without God, in which case your life has become completely meaningless. (Remember, we are created for God?)

Rejoice in your suffering. God is drawing you near to Him through it!

PH