~ written by Connie Dunmyer
I am old enough to remember this commercial for Fig Newtons:
For as long as Dana and I have known each other, whenever we get to a situation that's tricky or that has a rather large exclamation point to it – we refer to it as “the Big Fig Newton”. We have done that for nearly 48 years now.
The Bible has several “tricky parts” (parts we struggle to figure out), and even more “exclamation points”. In 2 Corinthians 12, we are made privy to one of these. And it just so happens to be an area that strikes most human beings without warning. The signs can be subtle. They can even be ignored. But they exist – even to someone like Paul.
Do you ever ask God to reveal things to you? Like heavenly things? I have. (Of course now I’m questioning the wisdom in that.) Paul was given special visions where he actually saw paradise and heard things so inexpressible that they aren’t even permitted to be spoken. That’s some special grace, wouldn’t you agree? At first blush, I’m like “sign me up”! BUT – then we hit verse 7 -
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me [to buffet me]. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
No one knows what this “thorn” was. But its identification is not nearly so important as the reason God gave it to him – to keep Paul from becoming conceited. Wow! Paul had seen so many amazing things that in his human state he would've naturally become conceited. God loved Paul enough to keep that from happening. After all, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” [Proverbs 16:18]
I have wondered to myself if God put me in my current circumstances to “PREVENT PRIDE”. To keep me humble. Pride takes God off the throne, and places me on it instead. Clearly this is important enough to allow all sorts of thorns. So much so, that God will actually allow a messenger of Satan to torment or “buffet” me.
Definition of Buffet
- (especially of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently; batter.
- knock (someone) over or off course
- (of misfortunes or difficulties) afflict or harm (someone) repeatedly or over a long period.
But from a messenger of Satan?
Really?
Well, yes. And yes, I do think this is for me! God is allowing me to be struck violently and repeatedly. The devil is trying to use it to knock me off course. But God is using it for ______________ [my good? my strength? my training? teaching me to trust? Or, the ‘big fig newton’ – to Prevent Pride].
Should I be “flattered” or “encouraged” to be in a similar situation as Paul?
Well today – I’m neither.
(vs 9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Interesting. So Paul does not get what he asked for. Instead, God gives him (& us) one of the most powerful promises in the whole Bible. And Paul says “YAY!!” . . . Yay for my weakness … Yay for my problems … Yay for getting insulted and misunderstood … Yay for hard times … Yay for persecutions … Yay for all these difficulties!
Why?
Because HERE is where God is. HERE – in the battering – in the fight – in the pain – in the affliction – in the illness – in the NEED – HERE is where He is. HERE is where God is providing POWER & GRACE. So HERE is where I want to be. As the song says "I'll count the joy come every battle 'cause I know that's where You'll be!"
But I am so very tired. And weary.
“. . . For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Ok then. I put my hands down and I collapse at His feet. I cannot do more. I cannot figure it out. It’s all up to God.
It always has been.
I think I need a cookie.