what i’ve learned about me and God: part iv

… to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  (Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

Much speculation has been given to what Paul’s “thorn” was and most commentaries on the subject vary to some degree, but it is clear that the thorn, whatever it was, was “given” and it remained so that God’s power might be shown. I venture to guess that we all have “thorns” of different sizes, shapes and consequence. I know I have them and I think in many ways I’ve been begging God to take one “thorn” in particular from me. Yet, in nearly every way, it remains. I guess I can keep asking Him to remove it or, as Paul, I can rely on God each and every day to display His power through me in spite of, or because of, my weakness. Too often I read the Bible and the stories of the great men and women in it and I do not let the reality of their struggles and their lessons settle into my heart and allow God to speak to me. These words in the Scriptures are God-breathed and are there to shape us…to teach us.

My approach to my (biggest) thorn these days has changed; each day I pray for His strength to overcome it. Ultimately that will mean a change in my thoughts and outward behavior, but that change doesn’t start from my own will to “be better” or “do better.” It starts when I realize that where I am weak, He is strong. In that realization, true change can come and the thorn, instead of producing sin, can be a launching pad for Him to show His power: a.k.a., for Him to “do some cool stuff.”

Whatever your thorn let it be the catalyst to show God’s power in your life