FOMO!

                                    2 Corinthians 12 2-10 v 7b “To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.”

I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. If I wanted to boast about it , it is the truth but I don’t want credit for things that I didn’t do. I want credit for things that people can see in my life or hear in my message. To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said “My grace is all you need.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so the powder of Christ can work through me. For when I am weak then I am strong.

FOMO is a new phenomenon familiar to millennials and those younger who grow anxious using social media comparing their lives to others they see there and are Fearful Of Missing Out! When I take pictures of my grandchildren as they crawl for the first time it happens only for an instant. How do we know that the photos of people having fun is just that, an instant in time that can be staged or change just as quickly. If families camping are there for the day, for the weekend or a week?

In this passage from Paul we see similar attitudes, so maybe this FOMO is not as new as I first thought. He had an amazing experience fourteen years ago but did not want to have others look at his life only through that experience, that brief image shown to him by God. He was also given pain in his flesh. God did not ignore his prayers for healing but told him” My grace is all you need”. Our daily pain and suffering reminds us that we need God, and if others see us doing good things despite our discomfort then God gets the glory, how great is that. Finally understanding that God can use us despite all our failings , for when I am weak, then I am strong!

Prayer: Heavenly Father who is wise in all things that are good we thank you for giving us the gifts that flourish when we work for you. For our weaknesses that show others we could only have accomplished great things with your help. Amen.