Title: How can we deal with our thorns?

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:9
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Main idea: God gives us much grace to bear our pain and bring us to the place where we can glory in our suffering.

Paul’s thorn in the flesh
Paul tells us about his affliction—his “thorn in the flesh.” We are grateful that he shared such an experience with us. We often ask about our trouble, “Why did God send this upon me?” Maybe God did not send it at all. Paul said the thorn was “a messenger of Satan” sent to torment him (2 Corinthians 12:7). The Bible describes God using Satan to test believers in several different places. According to the book of Job, Satan troubled Job with all kinds of catastrophes, including illness. But God limited Satan. He placed restrictions on what Satan could do (Job 1–2). In 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18, Paul described how Satan hindered him from returning to Thessalonica.

What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh?
Paul’s thorn in the flesh is not known, because he never reveals it. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” and the parallel reference to his “weakness” in verse 9 are often taken to refer to personal sickness. The other options are to understand them as referring to his inner temptations or to his being persecuted by his opponents. It could have been a bad temper, remorse for having persecuted the church or poor eye sight.

What is your thorn in the flesh?
It may be constant sickness, a great sorrow, or some heavy burden you carrying through out your life. It may be a weak heart, disappointment, failure, or weakness. It may be someone who is always getting under your skin. We do not know what tormented Paul. If we did, it would help us only when we had that particular affliction. As it is, his thorn represents every affliction. Think for a movement how God’s people have suffered. Moses had a stammering tongue. Jeremiah was overwhelmed with a sense of his own deficiencies. Peter had a bad temper. If you have a thorn, you stand in the company of some of the great people of history.

How can we deal with our thorns?
How did Paul deal with his thorn? Paul responded to these demonic-inspired attacks with prayer, the primary weapon of the Christian against evil (Luke 22:40; Ephesians 6:12, 18). Paul prayed for the thorn’s removal so he could be free to preach the Good News and build up others in the faith. Moses faced the evil complaints of his people through prayer. Elijah, upon feeling helplessness on Mount Carmel, cried out to God. David, when his heart was broken by his own sin, prayed. You can learn the secret of a power beyond your own through prayer. Paul prayed three times for the removal of the thorns. Paul didn’t say why he only prayed three times. Jesus was tempted three times, and he also prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane. Paul may have followed Jesus’ example in this situation (Matthew 26:36-45). Each time Paul prayed that God would remove the thorn, the answer came back, “No.” God chooses according to his divine purposes. Our task is to pray, to believe, and to trust. God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Paul came to know the sufficiency of God’s sustaining grace. God’s grace is sufficient in our weakness, in our suffering, and in our sin.

Application
Three times Paul prayed for the removal of the thorn. He received, however, something far greater because he received greater grace from God. Talk to the Father about your thorns, your helplessness and keep praying until the answer comes your way or until, like Paul, you have understanding and revelation and can say, “Your grace is sufficient for me.” What God allowed Paul to experience was for “Christ’s good” (2 Corinthians 12:10). God had used the “thorn” to teach Paul humility. Those who struggle with weaknesses tend to rely on Christ’s power. Only then can they become stronger than they could ever be on their own. Paul’s boast in his weakness summons us to trust in the sufficiency of Christ today. When obstacles come, you must depend on Christ.

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, You are sovereign and without your knowledge nothing will take place in my life. You are in control, Lord. I have the the peace.  In Jesus Name Amen.