Thoughts from Cindi Bradley

Hi Everyone!

I asked Cindi Bradley if she would mind writing a post for us - she writes "Monday Thoughts" each week and sent me one of those - Cindi used to come to East Brainerd and well, we still call her family - even if she did move to Alabama!!  Thanks for your thoughts Cindi!  We love you!

2 Corinthians 12:9

Have you ever noticed some areas in the Bible that kind of leave you hanging?  The story of the Prodigal Son is a prime example in Luke 15.  The Prodigal makes his way home and is welcomed by the father with open arms.  A party is thrown with family, friends and lots of good food as they welcome this wayward boy back to the fold.  The father ends up having to plead with this Prodigal's elder brother to come in the house, accept your brother, forgive your brother and join the party.  Does he go inside?  We're not told. 

A few chapters later in Luke 18 a young man who had kept every rule and every inch of the Ten Commandments walked away from Jesus after he was told that he'd have to sell all of his riches and follow Christ.  Did he ever have a change of heart and eventually follow Christ?  We're not told.

Acts 28 is the ending of an incredible book of history as we learn the early years of the church, We read of Saul's conversion, Saul's name changing to Paul, Paul putting his life on the line to share the gospel throughout the region. Many times a story or book will end with statements like "and they lived happily ever after" or "there he died and was buried" or something like that.  The book of Acts ends with Paul preaching in Rome and the verse reads, "Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."  No indication as to what happened to Paul- no clear picture as to how he died or when he died.  No documentation of what happened to the members of the church or if they prospered.

One of the most curious verses in the Bible is found in 2 Corinthians 12 when Paul speaks of his thorn in the flesh.  The thorn in the flesh!  Now that's quite a question.  Talk about being left hanging- Paul gives little if any clue of what was that thorn in the flesh.  I've asked many experts and friends whom I know study the Bible closely for their opinion of what was Paul's thorn in the flesh.  Recently, I brought up the topic to Mom and Dad and asked what they thought was Paul's thorn in the flesh.  Jokingly I said, "Well, we know Paul wasn't married so that narrows it down."

Mother quickly added that some believe at one time in his life Paul was married.  Dad chimed in, "Yes, he was married and her name was Grace because God told him 'My GRACE is sufficient for you."  (insert rolling of eyes here).

Many years ago while I was living in Birmingham I asked my preacher, Wayne Kilpatrick what he thought Paul's thorn in the flesh was.  "That's easy!"  Wayne answered. "It was a Deacon!"  They need to add more comedian classes to the curriculum in preacher's schools.

That thorn in the flesh- was it a physical condition?  Migraine headaches? Epilepsy? Malaria? Was his eye sight not completely restored after that incident on the Road to Damascus? Did Paul have some sort of speech impediment?

Was it a spiritual condition? Was there a temptation that Paul didn't feel he could overcome?  Were there opponents hindering Paul from carrying out the will of God to spread the gospel?

So many questions but no definitive answers.  At least, I sure don't know the answer.  What I do know is that Paul asked God three times to remove whatever this thorn in the flesh was.  THREE TIMES!  At least he was persistent. 

Going back to the examples I gave- maybe the reason the Lord left us hanging and doesn't reveal "the rest of the story" is because He wants us to write our own ending.  He wants us to put our own hearts and lives in that elder brother in Luke 15 and we be the one to decide if he goes in and joins the party.  Perhaps it's up to the church today to write the 29th chapter of Acts.  Are there things in our lives that we consider our own thorn in the flesh that we can insert in the blank left in 2 Corinthians 12?  Do any of us have a physical handicap we've asked God to heal or take away?  Have you asked God over and over for something you want so badly but you're beginning to feel He lost your address or hasn't heard your plea?

No matter what you insert in the blank or no matter what you label as your thorn in the flesh, the answer is the same.   Yep- the same exact answer He gave Paul.  When God explained to him (and I like the way it's interpreted in The Message) "My grace is enough, it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness,"  The answer fits no matter if it's Paul's thorn in the flesh or mine.

I'm not there yet or at least I'm not consistent with it.  For some things I can readily accept that God's grace is sufficient but when it comes to those deep, heart wrenching, down on my knees "please oh please oh please, God" I'm not there yet.  I mean, we're told that if we ask God for what we want, live a good life, go to church, treat others kindly, don't smoke, don't chew, don't go with boys who do...then God will give you what you  want.  Especially if you're asking for something that's not immoral, illegal or unethical.  Why wouldn't He say yes?

Where did we get such a bogus religious philosophy like that?  When did God become Santa Claus?  Be a good girl and good things will happen.  I take comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one who struggles with this thought process and others, like me haven't reached that point in their Christianity.  Others I know with a physical handicap have asked God to take it away but yet, their struggle continues.  We pray for loved ones to be healed from their illnesses but they yet they die.  We ask God to grant us our desires and deep down we truly feel this will make us a better Christian and help us grow closer to Him.  Paul reasoned and bargained the same way.  But, God said no.

How do I get there?  How do I accept God's grace and know that He truly will help me deal with my own thorn in the flesh?  Just like Paul, I need to change my focus.  Back to 2 Corinthians 12: 10 (once again from The Message) "Once I heard that God's grace was sufficient, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.  It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness."

In other words Paul realized it wasn't about him but rather it's about Him.  I've got to do the same thing.  Some how, I've got to grow to the point where I know God knows best.  He will give me what I need- not always what I want.  I trust Him. I surrender to the fact that it's all about Him. He's not going to withhold anything good that will bring me closer to Him.

Accepting God's grace.  That's what it will take for me to write my own happy ending.

Cindi A. Bradley