A Thorn in Your Side

Have you ever asked God to take something away repeatedly with no results? It could be a physical illness, an emotional imbalance, or a spiritual drought. Regardless of how you plead with God, there’s been no change. Sometimes we can feel frustration rising up within us because we know that God is able to do anything. Yet, the thorns remain constant.

The thorns in my flesh aren’t pretty nor convenient. The pain is uncomfortable, leading to my continual prayer of “God, please take this away!” But He doesn’t always respond the way I would like. Instead, He reminds me that His grace is enough in my time of weakness. It’s up to me to resist the grace of God or surrender to it.

When Paul was dealing with his thorn in the flesh, he repeatedly asked God to take it away. The response he received was, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). What does it mean for God’s grace to be enough when we are dealing with the thorns of life?

It means that God has whatever we need to get through it. We can no longer rely on our own abilities, strengths, or knowledge to figure things out. Instead, we pursue His grace to move forward in spite of our weaknesses. As we live in faith everyday His love, power, and strength are revealed through us.

Much of our Christian journey isn’t about us…and we know this when our thorns become more than we can bear on our own. The thorns remind us that we can do nothing without God. We are dependent on Him to provide what we need to get the calling and purpose completed.