The Thorn in My Side

"If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.


8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:6-10

The apostle Paul speaks of a thorn in his side.  Although it seems to have caused him much distress, he never mentions what the thorn is.  In addition, though Paul prayed for the thorn to be removed, God never did.  Instead, this thorn Paul suffered from put him in a position to receive something far better than relief from it's pain...it brought Paul into a position of weakness.  But isn't weakness bad?  From the world's perspective it is.  But not from a heavenly perspective.  This passage indicates Paul's thorn was a messenger from Satan, perhaps to prevent Paul's work for the Lord.  However, once again, what Satan planned for evil, God used for good. 

Paul's thorn brought him into weakness so that he could experience the full grace and power of God.  His weakness prevented him from relying upon his own abilities, which could lead to pride.  Instead, Paul's weakness left no room for doubt that his strength and help came from only one source...the Lord!  Based on this passage, I believe this thorn was something significant, something that was a huge hindrance to Paul in his ministry.  Quite possibly something that was a visible hindrance that others could see.  Yet, Paul doesn't mention what this thorn is.  Biblical scholars have speculated, but I'm not one to speculate on exactly what this thorn was.  I suspect the nature of the thorn wasn't mentioned because the thorn itself was not important for Paul to convey.  Based on this passage, I believe the important point Paul was making here is what God did as a result of the thorn, rather than focusing on what the thorn actually was.  Paul was declaring the power of God working in and through him to overcome the thorn.  His desire was to boast in what God was doing, not what "poor old Paul" was doing despite his thorn.  Paul was in a position to know that without God, Paul just wasn't happenin'.

Paul gave proper credit and glory where it is so rightfully and righteously due - to God!  His thorn was quite possible visible, earthly evidence to others that it was physically impossible for Paul to have done all that he did under his own power - thus pointing upward to a powerful Lord and Savior!  What a testimony!

Like Paul, we all have thorns that we struggle with.  My thorn has raised it's ugly head up again today.  It is a very bothersome thorn, one that just won't go away.  And you know what, after leaving my specialist's office today, I've come to the realization that my thorn and the complications related to it probably never will completely go away.  It will always threateningly hover over my life and I'll always have to deal with it's side effects.  So, I might as well accept that it could pop up at any moment.  My thorn, however, isn't visible - at least not to anyone who isn't a doctor - not yet anyway and hopefully not ever!  And just when life seems to be going great, complications of this thorn arises once again, reminding me of my own mortality - another reminder of just how precious and short life truly is.  And instead of my becoming frustrated as a result, I just need to keep on keeping on - relying on God to work through my weakness for HIS honor and glory!

To me, my thorn is just another opportunity to boast on our AMAZING and LOVING GOD!!!  So BRING IT!!!  HE is ready!  For,

Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

HE  IS MINE FOREVER.

Psalm 73: 25-26

And though my body has been attacked and riddled by the complications from this thorn, I am still SO WONDERFULLY MADE...by a loving, caring GOD...who knit me EXACTLY the way HE wanted me to be while I was in my mother's womb!  My life is playing out according to HIS perfect plan and purpose!  In HIM I place all of my trust!

In His Love, Cathy
(PS - I would like to be like Paul and not say what my thorn is, but I don't want people to think the cancer is back - it's not.  I'm just having complications as a result of no thyroid and being on such a high dosage of Synthroid.  So...in a nutshell, I may have early onset osteoperosis due to the synthroid. I'm scheduled for a dexa scan in a couple of weeks.  They said I was young (like) so they'd have to do an aggressive treatment (dislike)???  So, I guess retiring from children's ministry was a good thing...all that jumping around was breaking bones in my feet and toes and I didn't even know it!!! LOL!!!  Or maybe I broke them from kicking Scott?  To read my personal cancer testimony click on   http://bloggin4god.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-cancer-testimony.html )

God bless you, Friends!