Just as Paul: God has allowed you a thorn in the flesh.

Just as Paul: God has allowed you a thorn in the flesh, a something to remind you that while you’re in the Flesh your Incomplete, you’re unclean, Deserving of Punishment without Jesus. The Thorn is to keep you from exalting yourself! 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

You live in a world of instant self-gratification and most even promote this attitude…they teach that “you deserve to be healthy and wealthy, and free of pain. You have the Worlds expectations of the kind of life you’re suppose to have or what you’ve been taught you should have. The kind of life that you feel you are entitled to, and so when things don’t go the way you expect (which of course, hardly ever does), you feel betrayed, that somehow God has let you down. You see, many have made an hidden bargain with God – “God, I’ll believe in you, and come to church on Sunday, and put my two cents into the basket, and try to lead a good life. And in exchange, you make sure that things go smoothly for me. See to it that nothing really bad happens, and that I’m able to enjoy at least a comfortable middle class existence. Because that’s what I deserve as a faithful, obedient Christian.

God’s primary purpose for you in this life is not to make you happy, but to make you holy. And since He is sovereign over everything, that means that everything in your life – your job, your family, and your church – everything in your life is designed to accomplish that goal. God is not opposed to you being happy, but He wants your happiness to come from knowing Him. He wants you to experience peace and Joy in His presence. These are things that go deeper than happiness, and will not be found in your ideal about what you deserve. The most loving thing that God can do for you is give you what is best for you. And you need to trust that He knows what is best better than what you do.

Don’t be deceived by the world by your ideals. If you live a life for Christ it isn’t going to be a cake walk. You’re going to find very difficult times. You will experience trials, and hardships, just like every other person on earth. The truth of the matter is, you are blessed to not get what you deserve. God’s whole purpose for you is to make you Holy. That is, He is going to keep you Humble.