It was a simple job – I was weeding out the flower beds. But it seemed at every turn there was trouble lurking. One bush that has huge thorns on it had dropped a small limb. I thought I was clear of its prickliness, but didn’t see the dead limb lying in the path of my hands. With no warning, it got me when I reached out my hand to pull a weed. Pain shot through my finger while the blood quickly surfaced. I pulled the half inch thorn out, and even afterwards, my digit throbbed. I should have put my work gloves on, but I jumped into this task without thinking ahead or really preparing.
As I continued to work, I thought about how we’re all prone to run into prickly situations. Sometimes they are people. Sometimes they are consequences of our own sin. Other times they are trials of finances or illness. We never know when those barbed times will come and we never know in what form we will discover them.
How important it is that we prepare ahead of time. How do we do that?
- Just like I should have covered my hands, we must cover our hearts with the Truth of God and His Word. The more we know of Who God is, the stronger we will be when that painful thing hits us. That means we need a daily intake of the Word of God. His Truth will guard our hearts and help us think correctly; biblically instead of fleshly. That means instead of lashing out or desiring to get even, we will let God handle the results.
How should we respond to the prickly people and/or situations?
- After finishing my weeding task, I came in and washed my hands, freeing the hurt finger of the dirt and blood and washing it to prevent infection. We must bring our “pricks” to the Lord and lay them at His feet. If we need to confess sin, then we must let the washing of the Spirit cleanse us (I John 1:9). This also means not dwelling on the hurt. Thinking about how undeserving we are and holding our wound will only bring self-pity and perhaps the pain of bitterness. Let it go. If there’s another person involved, forgive them.
That prick in my finger happened several hours ago, and right now I’m not really positive which finger it was that got hurt! Time brings healing. Ecclesiastes 3 says, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: …there is a time to heal. All healings may not come on this side of heaven, but many of them will.
Instead of us sitting and holding onto our pain, let’s look up at the blessings God has brought all around us. Abraham Lincoln said, “We can complain that roses have thorns, or we can rejoice that thorn bushes have roses!” Look at all the people who aren’t prickly! Focus on the parts of your body that are working today! Rejoice in all that you see God doing that bring blessing and watch your own pain be diminished!
How are you rejoicing in the Lord today? I’d love to hear about your (roses) blessings!
By the way, you, dear reader, are one of mine! Thanks for stopping by today.
With love,
RefreshHer 