What is the thorn in your side?

   Everyone has at least one thing that is a struggle for them to overcome.  As we all have various pursuits in life, I believe that everyone is motivated and inspired differently.  Therefore everyone, as they are trying to achieve their pursuits in life are going to struggle with something.  Some may struggle with insecurity, others with being physically challenged with a disability, or with maintaining a good home life because of their love for work, or others may struggle because their personality is not conducive to their surrounding environment.  

   I watched a documentary last night on a short-haired, dark-skinned black woman from Mississippi, who moved to California without knowing anyone, who received fame and respect (not fortune) in the 1950s -1970s for writing poetry, acting, and entertaining.  Her name was Beah Richards (real name – Beulah Richardson).  Even though she was not in any way a picture of a Hollywood actress, and had to fight through not only the boundaries of being a woman, but also being a black woman with a Mississippi accent  🙂 .  Throughout her career she continued to strive for excellence, and though she never achieved the success of a Diana Ross or Lena Horne, her love for poetry and acting did result in an Oscar nomination as well as other awards and accolades.  Beah struggled to be a performing film actress, not because of her talent, but because of who she was and her appearance.  Her life, which by no means can be described in three sentences, is a picture of how a person can fight the battles of life, and be fulfilled knowing they never backed down from the fight, even though they could never win the battle.  

  I think about Paul, and how he lived his life as an apostle being tormented by a messenger of Satan, to prevent him from exalting himself.  I begin to wonder about how God may allow me to go through battles and struggles in life, just so I have a constant understanding that when I am weak, my spirit becomes stronger as I trust in Him.  Therefore, the thorn in anyone’s side is actually beneficial, and not unfortunate, when looking at it from a God perspective.   

2 Corninthians 12:7-10 NASB

— Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me–to keep me from exalting myself!  Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. —