Based on a series of sermons preached in PCC Prayer Meetings in 2023-2024
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Who is the greatest apostle? Some vote for Peter; and a case can be made for him. However, I would like to vote for Paul. Although Dr Luke may have a slight edge over Paul in terms of the number of words attributed to him, Paul wrote most of the books in the New Testament, and he has contributed more to Christian theology than any of the other apostles.
But Paul was not always happy. Apart from all the trials he experienced as part of the ministry, he had a thorn in the flesh, and it bothered him. It brought him much grief.
Let’s consider how he handled the unhappy situation. Perhaps you may identify with the dissatisfaction he experienced and find comfort from the Lord as he did.
There are three thoughts in his testimony in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
1. Your Thorn Is Not Pointless
Paul has a thorn in the flesh. We don’t know what it is. Many think that it may be a problem with his eyesight. Others suggest it may be an impediment of speech, bouts of depression, or a chronic disease like lupus.
Whatever the case may be, it is a thorn in the flesh: painful, irritating, something you want to get rid of as soon as possible.
Well, unlike thorns or burrs, which get stuck in our flesh by accident, Paul’s thorn in the flesh is not there by accident.
But why does Paul have this thorn? Paul knows. He probably knows it in retrospect after his request for its removal was denied. Even so, it is clear to him now: “Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure,” he says (v. 7).
Notice the repetition, “lest I should be exalted above measure.” Paul was given the thorn to keep him humble!
Do you have a thorn, dear reader? It may be a physical or mental infirmity. It may be a weakness you can’t seem to overcome. It may be something that happened in your life. It may have to do with your family—your children or spouse. Whatever it may be, remember: God has a purpose for giving it to you. It may not be the exact reason for Paul’s thorn, but you can be sure that it is not pointless. It may be the Lord is doing good to you through it. Or it may be that it is for the good of someone else. Remember that when Paul says, “All things work together for good to them that love God,” he is not only thinking of good for the one suffering.
So, seek the Lord’s wisdom. Perhaps He may make it clear to you why you need the thorn so you may thank Him for it cheerfully. “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” reminds the apostle Paul (1 Th 5:18).
2. The Lord Understands Your Frustration
Whatever the thorn may have been, it is bothering Paul. I wonder how often he thought: “How good it will be if this thorn is taken from me! How happy and effective I can be without this thorn!”
I wonder how many of us have thought and prayed similarly. How good it would be if I had more energy! What a difference it would make if I had married someone else! Oh, that I were not so poor! If only that stain in my life could be removed!
Beloved brother or sister in Christ, if you have ever thought this way, you must remind yourself that the Lord knows. He knows what He is doing in your life. He knows all your frustrations and limitations. He is in control. He is with you. He appointed the thorn for you.
How does the Lord respond to Paul’s request to remove the thorn in his flesh? He does not answer him the first two times. But finally, on his third attempt, the Lord answers. But He does not say, “Yes, my child, I will take it away.” Nor does He say, “No, my child, I cannot take it away.”
He states plainly, “My grace is sufficient for thee…” Essentially He is saying: “Yes, my child, I know your pains. I know your frustrations regarding the thorn. I am not unaware. Nor am I unconcerned. But trust me: my grace is sufficient for you. The thorn is exactly what you need for you to serve Me humbly. And I am with you and will never leave you, nor forsake you…”
Paul does not protest. I think he gets the message. He must trust the Lord to know what is best for him. He needs to rest under the Lord’s mighty hand.
He needs to stop thinking about how to get out of the situation he is in. He needs to stop fighting. He needs to stop acting as if the Lord does not know or has lost control of the situation. He needs to be assured in His heart that if the Lord does not answer his plea for the thorn to be removed, it is because He has a very good reason to keep the thorn in him.
So let us learn thirdly, …
3. The Lord May Decline to Remove Your Thorn
Paul beseeches the Lord thrice that the thorn might depart from him (v. 8). We must not think that Paul simply repeats, “Lord, please remove this thorn,” three times. Likely, he prayed many times to the Lord to remove the thorn. But three times, he must have spent an extended period importunately imploring the Lord, perhaps with fasting.
Finally, the Lord says to Him: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
It is not wrong to pray for the removal of the thorn in our flesh, whatever it may be. But remember that He often denies a request out of love.
Why does He deny our request to remove our thorns, which are causing heartaches and irritations?
For Paul, the specific reason is that Christ’s strength is made perfect in his weakness. That is to say, Christ’s power is glorified through Paul’s weakness.
How is that so? In two ways!
In the first place, when Paul feels weak, he learns to depend on the Lord. Thus, it is when we are weak that we are strongest. This is what Paul means when he says, in verse 10—“for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Because those who depend on their own strength and wisdom can never accomplish what they could with the Lord’s strength. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” says Paul elsewhere (Phil 4:13). Those who depend on their own strength in their walk with the Lord will tend to give up or become overwhelmed by failures and discouragement, whereas those who depend on the strength of the Lord will press on, having the joy of the Lord as their strength (Neh 8:10).
And so, in second place, the Lord’s strength is made perfect in weakness when the world beholds what can be done through a man of significant limitations. Should the man whom the Lord chooses to represent him be a superhero or super-saint with no thorns or faults, then wouldn’t glory redound to the man? But when one who is weak and hindered by a thorn in the flesh is used by the Lord to accomplish great things in His name, do not glory redound to God? “God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty,” says Paul (1 Cor 1:27).
For these two reasons, Paul can say: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor 12:9b).
For these reasons, Paul ceases to pray for the removal of his thorn.
Conclusion
Do you have a thorn in the flesh that gives you much heartache, dear reader?
Remember, in the first place, that it is not pointless. So, learn not only to thank God for the roses in your lives. Learn also to thank God for the thorns. Roses without thorns are fake. They show the wisdom and power of man. But roses with thorns show the Lord’s infinite wisdom and mighty power.
In the second place, though it is not wrong to ask the Lord to remove the thorn, remember that He may not. For, it may be precisely what you need for your life and ministry for the Lord’s glory.
Paul could see that both the thorn and the grace to live and serve with the thorn are part of the Lord’s gracious package for him.
What about you, beloved brother or sister in Christ? What is your thorn? Can you see how the thorn and the grace to live with it are part of the Lord’s gift for you? Can you see how Christ—who laid His life down for you—is also pleased to order your life, including giving you thorns, so that your life may glorify Him? Amen.
—JJ Lim