"Don't Spare Me"
God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. When trouble comes, we immediately begin to think about how we can get out of it as quickly as possible. God wants us to learn from it, to depend on Him for strength, and, in some cases, to depend on Him for the strength to endure it with joy.
Paul writes, “Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Notice that God tells Paul His grace is sufficient and explains that grace (cf. “for”) is His strength and power. Paul’s responds that if that is the case, he will most gladly take pleasure in any trouble that comes into his life so that he can experience the power of Christ.
Paul describes God’s power in our lives when he says, “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (Col. 1:11). God’s power is enabling us to be patient with people (the meaning of the Greek word translated “longsuffering”) and to endure difficult situations (the meaning of the Greek word translated “patience”) with joy.
When trouble comes, our attitude is, “Get me out of this.” God wants to use the trouble to teach us spiritual truth and give us the grace, strength, and power to endure it with joy.
When I was a young Christian, I heard a song that expresses this concept. It touched me deeply.
Don’t Spare Me
Audrey Mieir
Don’t spare me trouble, if it will bring me close to Thee
Don’t spare me heartaches, You bore a broken heart for me.
Don’t spare me loneliness, for I recall Gethsemane.
Don’t spare me anything that you endured for me.
Don’t spare me failure, if this is best for me.
Don’t spare me sickness, if this will make me call to Thee.
Don’t spare me suffering, for I recall your agony.
Don’t spare me anything that you endured for me.
But give me strength to follow thee.
G. Michael Cocoris, 11/30/2010
Paul writes, “Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Notice that God tells Paul His grace is sufficient and explains that grace (cf. “for”) is His strength and power. Paul’s responds that if that is the case, he will most gladly take pleasure in any trouble that comes into his life so that he can experience the power of Christ.
Paul describes God’s power in our lives when he says, “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (Col. 1:11). God’s power is enabling us to be patient with people (the meaning of the Greek word translated “longsuffering”) and to endure difficult situations (the meaning of the Greek word translated “patience”) with joy.
When trouble comes, our attitude is, “Get me out of this.” God wants to use the trouble to teach us spiritual truth and give us the grace, strength, and power to endure it with joy.
When I was a young Christian, I heard a song that expresses this concept. It touched me deeply.
Don’t Spare Me
Audrey Mieir
Don’t spare me trouble, if it will bring me close to Thee
Don’t spare me heartaches, You bore a broken heart for me.
Don’t spare me loneliness, for I recall Gethsemane.
Don’t spare me anything that you endured for me.
Don’t spare me failure, if this is best for me.
Don’t spare me sickness, if this will make me call to Thee.
Don’t spare me suffering, for I recall your agony.
Don’t spare me anything that you endured for me.
But give me strength to follow thee.
G. Michael Cocoris, 11/30/2010