In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul talks about his "thorn in the flesh".
The apostle to the Gentiles prayed that God would remove this thorn from his life. And God chose not to.
God answered Paul's prayer request with a resounding "no". Whether we like it or not, that is an answer to prayer. "No" as well as "yes" or "not now" are indeed answers to prayer. Too many times we are troubled when God doesn't answer our prayer requests. We demand - oftentimes - a "YES" to our requests. We want God to agree that our needs or desires or wants are indeed His.
Here's the verse in it's entirety with Paul's response (2 Corinthians 12:7 - 10):
"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."
The context for this passage is that Paul's Corinthian ministry was being challenged by certain "super apostles" (2 Corinthians 11:5). These super apostles were for the most part, well educated, professional rhetoricians (guys on the speaking circuit) of their day. In other words, the "super apostles" were slick, professional speakers. They knew how to "wow" people or tickle their ears.
You've seen them advertised on television whether pushing a product or an idea. Perhaps they're a tele-preacher. I think of Joel Osteen or Bennie Hinn. Yes, these men have their calling, but after a while, the glistening teeth and perfect hair and wrinkle free clothes don't cut it. Their talk of "feeling good" about yourself and life and God's provision of wealth, health and happiness begins to not only sound shallow, it reveals itself as truly shallow. God is deep. In fact He is fathomless.
Paul was not like these "professionals". He was who he was. Paul was exactly how God created and designed him to be. Paul was nothing to look at. He had been literally beaten several times within inches of his life and left for dead. He had been shipwrecked. He had walked hundreds and hundreds of miles to share the Gospel of God with the Gentile world. Paul also worked in his profession as a tent maker to help make his ends meet when there was no support. He received no salary like these "super apostles" did. (2 Corinthians 11:23 - 28).
Paul was simply following divine orders for the Savior who died for Him. For years the former Paul - Saul - had persecuted the Church with a zealousness that God would turn around and use. Paul's zeal for "religion" would be transformed into a zeal for an eternal personal relationship with the God of creation and the universe. After all, that's what Christianity - true Christianity - is; it's a personal relationship with the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - with your Creator. Christianity reveals that we are completely incapable of reaching up to God for salvation. He's Perfect, we're not. Knowing this, God lovingly reaches down, lifts us out of our sin and depravity and frees us from this life of bondage.
But God does not force Himself on us. He stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20). We have to answer and let him in. When we let Jesus into our lives, He willingly comes in to eat with us. Think of that really satisfying meal that you've had with an old friend. It's not about the food, it's about the relationship.
That's what Paul was preaching. The relationship with Jesus the Christ. He was not preaching this "new and improved" Jesus like the "super apostles". The nacent gnostic belief of that day spiritualized the idea that Jesus was somehow an illusion or spirit. The physical life, death and bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth was spiritualized. Sounds a lot like today's "new" ideas of Jesus doesn't it?
And it was this true Jesus that had chased down Saul and transformed him into Paul. It's somewhat interesting that the name Saul means "responded, asked for or prayed for" and Paul means "small or humble". He probably had been prayed for or asked for; he gave joy to his parents. Saul was a good Jewish boy. Now in his adult years, Paul would become small and humble so that God could fully use him for His divine purposes.
More often than not, God uses situations or conditions to humble us. In fact, God typically works contrary to the way we would work. God takes broken or weak or foolish things and transforms them into powerful, useful people, ideas and methods that will bring about His will. Paul was willing to be a "fool" for Christ. And when we are fools for our Lord and Savior, that in no way makes us inferior to other, more "polished" individuals.
So, back to the matter at hand: Paul's thorn. What was Paul's "thorn in the flesh" that he briefly spoke of? Honestly, we don't know. All that Paul tells us is that he prayed three times for the Lord to remove it. Like many of us, Paul thought that this thorn was somehow interfering with his ministry. Apparently God thought otherwise. Apparently this thorn was significant. Unlike a "pricker" or a thorn on a rose bush (as we westerners would be familiar with) that could be easily removed, this was a thorn that is found in those parts of the mid-eastern world like the one pictured above. Imagine getting that entire thorn stuck in your side. It would be difficult, if not impossible to remove. We ourselves could not remove it. It would have to be expertly surgically removed. As a "divine" thorn, it could only be removed by God.
But was is Paul talking about? What is or was his thorn? Some say it was a physical ailment. Others believe it may have been his constant running from the Jewish authorities. Still others believe there was some kind of un-confessed sin. He could have had several thorns. All of that is pure conjecture. Our "being nosy" wants to know. We live in a "tabloid" society that exposes everyone's dirty laundry and we receive a somewhat perverse joy out of knowing other peoples pain, suffering or peccadilloes.
Remember that God will often place a thorn in our flesh in order to "keep [us] from becoming conceited." It's not about us, it's about Him. The Gospel is about God. History is HIS-story; not ours - not mine, not yours.
What are the things that you've asked God to remove from your life so that you can do "more" for God and His Kingdom? Are you struggling with hidden sin? Is it food that has its grasp on you? Is it the "need" to be constantly exercising to achieve a "perfect" body? Are you consumed by needing to prove yourself to someone in business or finance or even ministry and in the meanwhile your spouse and family suffer? Is your thorn gaming or internet pornography? Is your thorn cleaning the house or detailing your car to the point where you don't "have time" to spend in God's Word? Do you struggle with perfectionism and pride or procrastination and fear? Do you need one more "hit" (you name the substance) so that you can make it through another day?
Can God surgically remove these thorns from your life? Yes! Some of them He may. If you ask, He more than likely will remove the desire of really harmful things such as alcohol or drugs or an abusive situation. But in matters of the heart and mind, He may not. And we shout, "that's not fair". But God may leave those thorns not for your sake or comfort, but for His Glory. God brings us through these thorns and weaknesses so that we may praise Him. As we struggle with over-eating or binging, pornography or gaming (this could even include crossword puzzles), or anything that could keep us from God, His Word and prayer, God may indeed leave that thorn in place. I believe He leaves it in place because if we Know Him as our Savior, His proximity soothes that thorn, and then in His time, dissolves it away. So instead of the thorn being an irritant of life, it becomes a prod that pushes us toward real life in Christ.
That is Grace. It is Grace alone that is sufficient for all of our worldly needs. It is common Grace that plants the awe and wonder of a sunrise or sunset in our minds. It is common Grace that allows us to experience the crashing of waves on a deserted beach or the majesty of snow capped mountains or the myriad colored fish swimming in the seas or birds that flock in the air. It is common Grace that provides the right amounts of sun and rain to grow our crops. God's common Grace provides the air to breathe or the smile and laugh of a new friend to bring joy and life to our lives.
But it is God's Saving Grace that brings us into Divine Fellowship with our Creator. He is the One who forgives us of our sin and takes that sin away. We can't do that on our own. We are completely incapable. Only God, in the Person of Jesus, is able to restore His creation. Through our weakness, His power is made perfect. Not our power, but His power. In His power miracles happen. Our life is forever changed. And not only ours but the lives of the people in the spheres of influence in which God has placed us. Our friends and neighbors and family watch us struggle with our thorns. They want to see how we will persevere the struggle or succumb to the thorn. We have two examples that we can follow. We can "curse God and die" (Job 2:9) or we can say with our whole being, "You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit." (Job 11:12) or "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God." (Job 19:25 - 26).
What was Paul's thorn? I don't know. Frankly it doesn't matter. If we knew, that would become a stumbling block for the ages as people "desire" to have that same thorn so that in pride they could say that they are chosen by God. What about your thorn? Are you letting it interfere with the life that God has given you or are you allowing that thorn to thrust you back into the arms of your Savior and Heavenly Father so that He will strengthen and preserve you? It's your choice. It's His Grace.
Do I have a thorn or two? Yes, I do. What are they? Not to be rude, but it's not your business or concern. That's between God and me. What I will tell you is that He is in the surgical business. He has healed me and I am being healed. My thorns push me to my Father. It is there that I find the Grace to move forward in His strength. He can do the same for you. I praise Him for my thorns.
God's Grace. It's amazing! More than that, it's sufficient for us. Like Paul, we need to completely lean into God. We need to be completely dependent on Him for everything and in every part of our life. God is good all the time; and all the time God is good.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the thorns in our lives. Leave them there only for the purpose of driving us closer to You for the fulfillment of Your plans. Thank you for Your Grace. It is sufficient for all. Amen.
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Music video: Christy Nichols - "Waiting Here for You"
