Picture in your mind a small child crying hysterically from a tiny wound. A nearly invisible shard of glass, a sliver of wood, or a thorn from a thistle has pierced a little hand or foot. The young one finds it nearly impossible to quit crying and obey the adult command to “Stand still so I can pull it out!” The child’s impulse is to run away from the scary tweezers, to kick, scream, flail, flop on the floor—anything but stand still, but stand still he must and endure the painful extraction to avoid further suffering and pain.

At least the child knew there was a real problem embedded in the flesh and came to the right place for help. We grown-ups aren’t always so cognizant. 

What we have is worse than a sliver. What we suffer from is an invisible thorn—a stubborn sin nature embedded in the flesh, and if anything is going to save us from that, we will have to “stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.”

Like a child, we will need to heed the voice of our heavenly Father, recognizing we are helpless and cannot save ourselves. Like a little one with their eyes on a loving parent, we will need to stand still and submit to God’s remedy in Christ.