skeletons in the closet

I don't know a soul that don't have a skeleton in the closet so to speak. Some worse than others? Is there such a thing? I mean really, where do we draw the line? I am certainly not any different than anyone else.

I think sometimes that my problems are worse than others. But actually problems are problems and we need to deal with them, however it comes. I have been reading extensively this past weekend and have read the seven penitent Psalms about 25 times in the past 36 hours. I get something new every time I read them. For those of you who would like to know them they are Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143. They have been very enlightening.

In my reading and study I also have jumped over to Paul's writings. Paul asked the Lord to relieve him of a thorn in his side that he was so tired of fighting. Well, you know, I may have added that part. I'm not sure how tired of it he was, but I am relating this to me and I am very tired of the thorn in my side. I want it gone and I have prayed for years for the Lord to just take it away. Well, it wasn't until yesterday that I noticed that that was exactly what Paul was asking the Lord to do, to take away the thorn in his side.

"No" was the Lord's answer. Why would the Lord tell Paul "no"? To make him a stronger man, he was told. Here I have been getting weaker and weaker as I asked the Lord to remove this thorn in my side and all along I realize now that I am down, down on the ground and on my knees that God is not going to take it away. It is there for a reason, and that reason is to humble me and make me a stronger person. So, now I see that God wants me to have this "problem" and that he wants me to use it in my life to help others. I can't get any lower, and it took this to wake me up.

I pray Lord that whatever happens in my life from this day forward, that you will use me to further your kingdom. I know that my thorn is there for a reason now and that I have to learn to control it and use it to keep me humble. These things are not given to us to torment us, they are given to us to see how we will respond to them. Will we be overcome by the evil one or will we learn to overcome these issues and while "still there" let them help us to be better and stronger Christians.

I have never thanked the Lord for my trials. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but today I will praise God for my trials and the strength that it has given me. God is on my side and even with a thorn in my side, I am a better man for it. Thank you Father for my trials and forgive me for giving in to the sinful nature of the thorn in my side.