I posed the following question to my sister recently: “Do you ever wonder what “thorn” plagued Paul?”
Do you?
I do.
Photo by Fazly Shah on Unsplash
Was it a health ailment? Financial stress? Persecution?
Why do you suppose Paul never tells us what it is? Hard to say, but he admits to us in 2 Corinthians that he was given this “thorn” so he wouldn’t become conceited. That got me thinking. Does God allow things in our lives to rein us in? To stop us from going our own way and not relying on Him when we should?
Paul confesses to asking God to remove his thorn of the flesh, but it’s never taken away. See the passage below.
2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NIV)
Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What are our thorns? Are they health-related, financial, relationships? Mine is migraines. I suffer from them and have tried almost everything to rein them in but without success. I’ve asked God to take them away but for some reason, they persist.
What does God teach us with our thorns? TRUST. He is in control, not us. Just like Paul says, when we are weak, then we’re strong.
I hold on to that promise and that God’s grace is sufficient for me.
Praise Him!
What is your thorn of the flesh? Share with us so we can all pray for each other.
From my Playlist
This song has been on my playlist a lot. I rejoice in the fact that there’s still power in THE BLOOD.
Power in the Blood – sung here by Amy Grant
Well said. Good reminder that God is in control
Thanks Kim. Yes, He IS in control…even when I try and take it from Him. 🙁
Hello my friend! It’s been ages since seeing you, but I am aware of what is happening in your life, at least in the writing world via your blogs and FB. As to this current blog, I have to admit that my ‘thorn’ is in family relationships that currently are at an impasse. I say currently, because, as you have so well reminded me, God is the One who is in control of all things, including the ‘thorn’ that haunts me daily. Thank you for the reminder of the wisdom the Scriptures so clearly present and the need to TRUST God for the much-needed healing. I am constantly reminded of the verse in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” I have it on a mug, on a fridge magnet and a wall plaque as reminder to wait on God, Thanks again. Love to you and Jeff.
Hi Ruth! Sorry to hear about your thorn. I will pray for you. I LOVE that verse! It’s so hard to be still though, isn’t it? Love to you and Doug!
Outstanding! Thanks! My thorn is anemia – having to rest. I know this is the first time I’ve admitted to it because I’m always going and doing.
Hi DiAnn! Thanks for your encouraging words. Sorry to hear about your thorn. I will be praying for you! xo
Thank you for this, Darlene. Powerful! My Granny’s favorite hymn was “Power in the Blood”. She sang it all the time when I was a child. This was an unexpected blessing today. Praying for you and your migraines. My family fully understands how debilitating they can be.
Hi Debra! Thanks for your kind words and prayers. I really appreciate it! Power in the Blood is such a great hymn! Thanks for stopping by! Blessings!