A Thorn In My Side 
By Mike Rule

One of the ways God has provided to supplement our ministry support income is for me to do auto repair work. Several weeks ago I received numerous calls for work and had several jobs lined up, which was a relief to me because we really were falling behind on some bills. Then God happened. I was driving my "toy" car (a highly modified 1968 Dodge Dart) and spotted a nice big pair of pliers in the road. Since traffic was light I pulled up next to them, opened the door, and reached out to grab them. They were just a little beyond my reach due to the roll bar that obstructs the door opening on this car. I only lacked a little bit of room, so I pushed myself hard against the steel bar to grab hold of that tool. As my fingers closed around the pliers, I felt a sickening pop in my rib cage as the cartilage tore apart. I had really done it this time! I was told I needed six to eight weeks healing time, and was restricted to minimal activity. This left me in a tough spot because I had a lot of car repair jobs to get done. As I sought the Lord's face asking Him why this happened when our needs were so great, He smiled and quietly said, "It was me, Mike." He didn't need to say anything more because I knew what He was saying.

I so often fall into the subtle trap of trying to take matters into my own hands and help God. Once again, God had to put me in a position of greater weakness to reveal my heart. I continually tell people Jesus is all they need, then try to live in a way that opposes the message. He is working through every way that is not that way to bring me to see The Way. The Way is Jesus. It has been a tremendously difficult thing for me to have my wife, my friends, and other family members come alongside to be my hands, accomplishing things they could never do on their own, while I sit there directing them. I know I could do things so much faster and easier myself, and I have felt so helpless and frustrated. Yet the work has been accomplished through mechanically unskilled hands and untrained minds simply because they love me and wanted to be available for me to work through. They did nothing of their own initiative, but waited for every word of my mouth.

As the Lord ministered to me through this, He reminded me that He does this same thing with us every day. I began to have a greater understanding of the patience and love Jesus has for us. He could do the work so much better and more efficiently Himself, but He voluntarily chooses to work through us instead. He isn't frustrated, nor does He feel helpless. It is His greatest joy. He revealed all of this through a financial hardship, a pair of pliers, a "toy" car, and a state of brokeness and weakness. I began to understand why He had given me this thorn and how His grace is sufficient because His power is made perfect in weakness. We accomplish things we never could accomplish; not because we are doing it, but because the Father is doing it through us. (John 5:19, 8:25-29, 12:49)