Thorn in the Flesh

Have you stopped and thanked God for...that illness, that weakness, that need to understand, that control, that manipulation, that criticism, that hardship, that attack, that need, that burden, that powerlessness, that persecution for standing for right, that mistreatment by a boss or co-worker or spouse, that stress?

THANK God for these things?!?  Paul did.  Of course, God had allowed Paul to see some amazing things—like heaven! Because of that, God had allowed Satan to strike Paul with a blow—with a thorn in the flesh.  God knew this thorn would keep Paul humble. We don’t know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was—but we know what he did.  He asked God to remove it.  Three times!   But God said no.  In fact, God went on to tell him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Did you catch that?  GOD’S strength—His dynamite power—is made perfect, completed, or fully accomplished through our weakness.  

Paul went on to say that because God’s strength would be magnified through those hard things, he would choose them and be thankful for them.  

Where are you in the process?  Have you even thought about those things as being a thorn in the flesh—a way to keep you humble?  Have you asked Him to remove them?  Have you acknowledged God might have allowed it to magnify Himself and display His great power?  Have you thanked Him for them?

God, help me and my friends!  Help us to examine the painful things in our lives so we can see if You’ve allowed them in our lives to display Your great power.  Regardless, God...help us to get to the place where we can thank You for them.  Change our perspective about them. In Jesus’ all-powerful name, amen.