5.

That’s the number of times I’ve almost fallen (plus 1 actual spill) recently at the end of runs, as a result of shuffling my feet. As I was nearing the finish line, instead of lengthening my strides and finishing strong, I found myself almost tumbling to the ground from my foot catching a curb, root, rock or sidewalk edge.

I’d become complacent and careless and have scar on my hand, even now, to remind me of the need to be vigilant to avoid obstacles on my path.

The Apostle Paul notes how the Lord kept him from stumbling on complacency, carelessness and conceitedness in 2 Corinthians 12 when he describes a “thorn in the flesh” that God used to keep him humble:

“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.” (2 Cor. 12:7-10)

No one knows for certain whether Paul was referring to a physical, spiritual, emotional or relational affliction; however, we do know the thorn’s purpose: “To keep him from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations.” God’s goal in allowing the thorn in the flesh was to keep Paul humble.

The above example of the Apostle Paul as well as this quote below should remind us of “God’s Gift of Unanswered Prayer.”

“If God answered all the prayers we put up to heaven, we should need no other scourge. Blessed it is that we have One who is too loving to grant what we too often so rashly ask.”—F. Whitfield.