The world is full of trials and suffering, made very real to us in recent weeks. We are facing unfamiliar territory with threats to our health, relationships, and finances. We have undoubtedly heard it many times that God is sovereign, in control, with us… This is all true and comforting, but let’s not pass this time just getting through. Instead, let’s open our hearts to invite God to use this difficult time to sanctify and purge us of our sinful motives.
The apostle Paul was faced with a very difficult situation:
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,
a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from
becoming conceited. (2 Corinthians 12:7)
What was his thorn? I believe he was intentionally vague. We tend to explain away other people’s experiences. We tend to convince ourselves that our situation is different. Whatever our thorn is, we have a choice. We can be a victim and flounder in self-pity, or we can let the reality of it change us in
beautiful ways.
We have an opportunity to let the thorn of COVID-19 remind us of who God is. We are facing weaknesses, hardships, and calamities. Our instinct is to run from this situation or to look past it in order to cope. Right now, we have few physical options to which to run, but we still have an abundance of virtual options to numb and distract our minds. We can also run from the trial in our hearts—by being angry in our perceived judgment of the government’s over- or under-reaction, angry with people who are ignoring the recommendations, and/or angry with God. Don’t ignore that anger. God created emotions to motivate us. We are called to act on them, but not to react because of them. Let them cause you to move, but ask God to guide you.
To ask for healing or deliverance is biblical. Paul was not rebuked for it, even though he asked three times. Jesus himself said,
Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.
(Matthew 26:39)
Our trials, our thorns are results of this fallen world, meant to make us aware of our need for God and to give us the opportunity to praise him. I have been visually impaired since birth as a result of a genetic defect. The impairment has presented me with many challenges throughout my life. How would I function in school? How would I pay the bills? Would God give me a wife? Facing the unknowns has not always been easy and God has not always done things the way I thought he would or as quickly as I hoped, but he has and always will be faithful. Paul wrote,
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions,
and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
By the grace of God, I have found that same contentment and strength amid my personal story. I can see definite character issues in myself that were directly dealt with through my visual impairment.
We all have our own stories. I like to say that everyone has a handicap; it is just that some of ours are more obvious than others. You have heard individuals say that their entire outlook on life has changed after coming through a personal trial. Imagine what we as Christ-followers can do when we all emerge from the COVID-19 trial at the same time. Let us think differently, talk differently, believe differently.
I challenge you to be like Paul for the sake of Christ. Ask God to use this common trial and your personal trials to sanctify you, to continually make you into the image of his Son. To paraphrase Joni Eareckson Tada, “Don’t waste this trial.”
