Thank You God, for Fleas

How are you? Well, I forgot to finish this, and then I got a phone call from, and after that I accidentally, and now I have to…


How easy is it to talk about our complaints?

I have this amazing skill of becoming stressed when life doesn’t go my way.

My way… hah.

Desiring life to follow my plan has always been something I’ve struggled with. I want it to go according to plan and when it doesn’t I become discouraged and defeated. The minor setbacks that I encountered would throw me into a whirlwind of confusion. 

You know Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples? He’s always been one I can easily relate to, especially when he tries to walk on water. He starts out with this plan of, I will focus on you Lord and I can do it, but the storm distracts him and he begins to drown. (Matthew 14:22-33)

It’s easy to lose focus. It’s easy to pay attention to the setbacks and failures that happen. It’s easy to complain about fleas.

Fleas? What? I’ll explain…

First, what is a flea?
A flea by definition is “a small wingless jumping insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. It sometimes transmits diseases through its bite.”

Sounds like a grand animal to have around, right? It can give you a disease and it feeds on your blood, a real kill-joy if you ask me. Why would I be thankful for a flea?

A friend recently reminded me of this part in Corrie ten Boom’s book “The Hiding Place,”

“When they were moved to Barracks 28, Corrie was horrified by the fact that their reeking, straw-bed platforms swarmed with fleas. How could they live in such a place?

 It was Betsie who discovered God's answer:

"'"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus." That's it, Corrie! That's His answer. "Give thanks in all circumstances!" That's what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!' 

"I stared at her; then around me at the dark, foul-aired room…"

They thanked God for the fact they were together. They thanked God they had a Bible. They even thanked God for the horrible crowds of prisoners, that more people would be able to hear God's Word. And then, Betsie thanked God for the fleas.

"The fleas! This was too much. 'Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.' 

"'"Give thanks in all circumstances,"' she quoted. 'It doesn't say, "in pleasant circumstances."  Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.' 

"And so we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong."

It turned out that Betsie was not wrong; the fleas were a nuisance, but a blessing after all. The women were able to have Bible studies in the barracks with a great deal of freedom, never bothered by supervisors coming in and harassing them. They finally discovered that it was the fleas that kept those supervisors out. 

Through those fleas, God protected the women from abuse and harassment.”

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

So how would I define a flea? A flea is anything that can kill the joy that I have in Christ, anything that makes me focus on the storm instead of on Him. However, if I allow myself to realize there is a purpose behind the flea I begin to see fleas as a reason to trust God's plan, to thankfully look to Him for strength and understanding. 

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Fleas, setbacks, storms, tears, laughter, all of it, and any of it I am thankful for. I may not understand why I have fleas, but the Lord has a plan, so thank you, thank you Lord for the fleas.