Lately, I’ve had a series of events which a friend of mine calls “ankle-biters”. Nothing serious, nothing major. Just annoying little occurrences which seemingly waste my time, disrupt my plans and keep my mind from being focused. They’re like the yippy little dog that keeps barking and nipping at your heels. You know the dog isn’t going to harm you, but, man, is it annoying!
My latest ankle-biter? My big toe, or should I say my biggER toe. I’ve been keenly aware of its existence since last Thursday night at a softball game. I wish I could say I was making a stellar play - a diving catch or sliding into home. But, no, I was just running to first. I’m not really sure what happened. All I know is that my toe is now purple, hurts like crazy and is swollen. It’s prevented me from working out the past few days, and I missed the last game with my team. My footwear options have been reduced to flip-flops. The end of the world it is not. No long-term affect on my lifestyle, no dramatic life changes. Just an annoyance. A constant reminder.
Paul also experienced an ankle-biter. He called his a “thorn in the flesh...a messenger of Satan to torment me.” Only Paul’s never went away. In 2 Corinthians 12, he tells the church that he asked God three times to take it away. God’s response? “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul went on to say, “So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” God brings ankle-biters into our lives to remind us of our powerlessness and His power.
I’ve been reminded this week that I am merely human, able to be rendered powerless by one of the smallest members of my body. And all the other ankle-biters in my life right now serve as a reminder that I can’t tackle them all on my own. There’s no way. But, I serve a God who can. In my weakness, His strength will be made perfect. I just have to remind myself that God is bigger than my big toe.
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