August 11.
If Only

Genesis 41:37

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

God didn’t want Paul to get puffed up with pride. God said, “When you start thinking about how you can speak fourteen different languages, seven of them fluently how you’ve established thirteen churches, how you wrote one third of the New Testament, that you have your doctorate of divinity, and that you have been caught up into the third heaven, people won’t be able to touch you.” So God had to keep Paul where he could use him. You see when God can’t use you, then you’re no good to the Lord. Actually, you become a danger to the body of Christ. But thank God, he always makes provisions. Never think that God does not watch us. He knows every trap we find ourselves in and He’s always there to get us out of our dilemma.

Paul sought the Lord three times asking that the thorn might depart from him, but his prayer was unanswered. However, the Bible says if we ask for something, He will hear and answer our prayer. Paul was like some of us. He went to the Lord and said, “If only you would move this thorn.” Lord I could serve you better if only I didn’t have this low down boss on my job. I could do more for you, if only I didn’t have this wayward child at my house. I could be more effective if I didn’t have this drug addict husband. I could come to church more if I didn’t have this sickness in my body. Lord, I could be more helpful in the body of Christ if only my finances were a little better. In other words, we’re trying to run God’s business. “I would do something for you Lord, but I’ve got this thorn in my flesh.” God loved Paul but he didn’t remove the thorn because it wasn’t necessary. Paul was more effective with the thorn than most people in the New Testament. It’s a shame when a one-legged man can cover more ground than a two-legged man.