Clinging

"Clinging to the Vine When Life Hands You Thorns"

October 22, 2003

Do you ever hear yourself saying amid life’s trials this very question “Lord, why is this happening? How many times do thorns cloud our vision when all the Lord has asked of us is to cling to Him.

I also have struggled with the same question in which my experiences were to try and root out the thorns of life on my own. As I plowed through the very weeds with determination to pull them up, I received many wounds from the thorns.

Think about it, how many times do we try to solve or create solutions for trials when all we had to do is trust Jesus as He has told us in His Word. Why do we waste energy and emotions and not surrender the very things God has graciously given us? Our flesh is weak yet we trust it to solve things that only the grace and mercy of the Lord can repair.

Through hardships we are promised He will be with us. Through sickness He has promised He would heal us. Through suffering He has told us He holds us in the palms of His hands. Just think for every tear that drops from your precious eyes, the Lord has a bottle with your name on it. Yes, He even knows the tears you shed in your life struggles.

Is your life out of control? Do you need assurance that the Lord is with you and walking right by your side. Remember as a child when you pricked your finger with a thorn and you ran crying to your parents to make it stop hurting. Well, God our Father “Abba” is waiting for us to run to Him when the thorns of life are making us hurt.

Yes, Jesus promises this; “ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”
John 15:5

We have to trust in the promise of Jesus and cling to Him. Why? So as we cling to the lifegiving Vine we produce good healthy fruits. He is the one who prunes us, fills us with living water, and sustains us when life’s thorns and weeds seem to create so much pain and suffering.

When life is out of control and you feel like running, run to the Savior and cling to the Vine, let Jesus fill you up with comfort, and then watch as He produces fruit for the keeping in your life. When the thorns and weeds of life crowd you, cry out “Abba” I need you and put your whole trust in the Living God who loves you. He promises you that He will always love you with an everlasting love.

So, when life hands you thorns cling to the Vine and rest in Jesus Christ.