Thorn in the Flesh
"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelation, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me." - 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 ESV
We don't know the exact thorn Paul endured, but we know it was painful. It harassed him, nagged him, bothered him. The original word describes something more like a tent stake, not a tiny rose thorn.
So many people think thorns of illness and pain could never be part of the life of a believer. According to Scripture, that's a lie. We know it was given to Paul. He begged God to remove this thorn, repeatedly.
It's not surprising because Paul was actively sharing the gospel, in a life of active ministry. His suffering must have made the work even more challenging.
Our chronic, lingering illnesses not only bring physical suffering but emotional and spiritual ones. Like Paul, we beg God for healing ... and sometimes He says no. But perhaps, the Lord has a better plan for us, as He did for Paul.
In Paul's case, God's purpose was to keep him from pride, to help Paul experience His constantly sufficient grace to humbly keep going, and to show God's power through Paul's weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
God's answer for us also might be His sufficient grace. Our thorns may be here to stay, but he encourages us with this verse:
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13 ESV). Maybe our illness is a "thorn" to help us place our hope completely on the day we will see Jesus, by His grace.
Let's pray for healing, but also trust His grace so we might be able to sing, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound" ("Amazing Grace," Newton, J., 1779).
Do you have a song of trust you could sing today?
- Lauri Hogle
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