The Blessing in the Thorn

If you’ve ever pruned bushes, it’s likely that a thorn has made its way into your finger. Why is it that the smallest  injury seems to be the most irritating?  Paper cuts and thorns, ugh. While a paper cut stings like crazy, it usually heals quickly. A thorn, on the other hand, may not show itself right away, and when it does, redness, swelling and festering accompany it. As tiny as it may be, the whole body goes on high alert.

The Apostle Paul talks about his own “thorn in the flesh”, but never says exactly what it is. Many have tried to guess, but I think God intentionally had him keep it hidden so we could all relate. What is your thorn? It certainly can be a physical condition, and usually it’s something we didn’t choose. Paul asked God three times to remove his, but he didn’t. Paul, in his typical style, chose to be humbly content with it, not happy, but he endured and went on.

There is a song I love called, The Blessing in the Thorn. It sounds strange, but knowing that God has a purpose, and plan for our irritations, makes them more bearable. “..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.” 2Corinthians 12:8-10.  Forget the tweezers, just call on God to deal effectively with your “thorn“.