My Fat Toe and God – Part Two

In my last blog, I whined about my swollen toe and my observation that each of us has a (figurative and literal) limp. More importantly, I left you hanging with a very pivotal question:

When do you accept your limp and learn from it, and when do you refuse to settle?

First, I can’t believe I left myself with such a difficult question! (What was I thinking?!!) In many ways, we’re each dependent upon the Holy Spirit to speak into our specific circumstances. This blog certainly can’t apply to all situations. Nevertheless, our ability to process through this question and apply it to our lives is vital for us to be unhindered in our relationship with God. Our goal is not to be without a limp, but to remove anything that stands in the way of us being completely usable by the Lord. In reality, it’s that framework that should help us answer the question.

When do you accept your limp?

• When the Lord has clearly shown you that this is His plan.I think of the thorn in Paul’s flesh. Paul says of his “limp”:

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2 Corinthians 12:7).

There are times when I can see that the parts of my journey which represent a limp are what keep me humble. I no longer fight or resent that limp because it’s given me eyes to see my need of Christ more clearly.

[bctt tweet="The parts of my journey which represent a limp are what keep me humble."]

• When you’ve exhausted all other reasonable options.“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses…” (2 Corinthians 12:8).

Paul asked and asked and asked until God said no. When God told Paul that His grace would be sufficient, Paul switched gears and embraced his limp.

When do you refuse to settle?

• If there is any part of your limp that you have not addressed out of pride or fear.Many of us walk around with relational limps. Words have wounded us. Bad choices – ours or someone else’s – have left us unable to return to a full stride. While painful experiences definitely change us and sometimes we have to come to terms with our limp, we also must be willing to do the hard work for healing to occur. Again, if our goal is to be totally moldable and unhindered in our relationship with God, that has to urge us to get the help we need so we can be healthy… even if it’s a new healthy.

If you limp because you refuse to ask for help, please refuse to settle!If you limp because you’re afraid of a tough conversation, please refuse to settle!

• If you haven’t heard “no” from the Lord.Over and over again, God tells us in Scripture to ask. Matthew 7:7, Matthew 21:22, John 14:14, and James 4:2 for starters.

While each verse needs to be understood in its context, one thing is true: God wants us to come to Him as our Father and ask. Sometimes He changes us through the asking. Sometimes He changes what we ask. But either way, if God has not said “no,” then continue asking. His timing often feels late, but rest assured… on eternity’s clock, He’s always right on time.

[bctt tweet="God's timing often feels late, but rest assured… on eternity’s clock, He’s always right on time."]

My best encouragement to you is to stop looking at your limp as an unfair pain and start asking God how this journey can cause you to love Him more deeply and see Him more clearly. With this perspective, you’ll be victorious even if He chooses to leave your limp on this side of heaven.