Perspectives

I believe all of us share one common thought as Christians: Why doesn’t God remove irritants in our lives, things that are hurtful to us, or as the apostle Paul calls it, (“Thorns in the flesh.”) especially when we pray for deliverance, to be free from the things that bother us? Well you say, “I must understand this one thought…that God always answers prayers.” However, sometimes the answer can come as no. And the reason for that is because He knows what is best for us. He knows it will be hard for us to understand this rational, this logic, this common sense reasoning. But He also knows that with time, we will come to understand that it is better for us to bear the burden, or thorn, than to be without it. Is it not true that when times are tough we learn to lean on Christ?

We know about circumstances in which people have really shone, even though they suffered what we would consider harsh conditions. There is a man whose blind eyes didn’t stop him from designing a system of reading so that other blind people could read. Imagine the joy that flooded his heart when he came to realize that his thorn in the flesh opened the eyes of blind people through out the world. What a blessing that must have been! Many times you and I have had to really lean on Christ for inspiration, for motivation so that we could continue our walk with Christ, especially after we have suffered a heart felt event. It is in times like that, that we learn to know, God’s grace is sufficient for us. He says, “His power is made prefect in us when we are at our weakest moment in life”.

Maybe that is what the apostle Paul meant by a thorn in the side…2 Corinthians 12:7-12…7) To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9) 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. 10) 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.

What was it that Paul felt twisting in his body like a thorn in his side? Over the years many have given answers suggesting what it might have been. Likewise, many of us have felt the sting of a thorn in our own lives. Maybe we think that spiritual temptations, doubts that suddenly flood our souls, dodging our Christian responsibilities, our when we are overcome by some temptations. Perhaps, when we have faced opposition and persecution, and constantly battle those who get in the way of our ministry. Sometimes I feel as though carnal temptations have become a thorn in my side. However, all of these ideas I think are just that, ideas; that come to my mind. I do think Paul’s case was different.

The picture that comes to us, when we read about Paul’s thorn in the side, is one of a physical kind. I say that because we learn Paul was really struggling with his tormentor. Sometimes Paul was rather sickly, but it never kept him completely from his ministry. It has been said that Paul’s thorn was his physical appearance. You have heard that in our churches, and we will continue to hear that. But the one thing we do know is Paul prayed for God to remove his thorn in the flesh and the answer he got was something we might have a problem with.

The Apostle prayed that God would remove the thorn from him, but God’s answer was no…He did not remove it from him, but what he did was provide the strength so Paul might be able to bear it. That is how God sometimes works in your life and in mine; He does not keep us from trials, but gives us the power to overcome them. God’s power will be sufficient for the time when physical weariness bears down on us. God’s grace will be sufficient when physical pain is part of our lives. God’s grace will be sufficient when we face opposition. God’s grace will be sufficient when we face slander, when we face mistreatment and abuse . . . it is to the glory of God, when we are at our weakest we may find the wondrous grace of God’s love allowing for Christ’s love to shine through us. To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Would you pray this prayer with me…“Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I don’t have peace in my heart, I really want that peace, joy and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honour to Your Name.” Amen