Warrior for Christ

Paul’s thorn was allowed by God! ESV 2 Corinthians 12:1-10: Paul says to the Corinthians, “I knew a man 14 years ago who was caught up to the third heaven. He received an unspeakable revelation of God. He heard things that could not be told. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”

Three times Paul pleaded with the Lord that it would leave him. But God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So Paul boasted more gladly of his weaknesses so that the power of God would rest upon him. “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

God might sometimes allow a messenger of Satan to buffet us. He allowed Joseph to suffer evil at the hands of his brothers, yet revealed to his brothers, approximately 25 years later, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). We need to understand the way the Lord works in us to perform a work by the Spirit of the living God. Reading His Word and having a personal walk with Jesus will give you a greater understanding of the process and the difference He works in us individually according to our hearts. The Apostle Paul describes a “thorn in the flesh”—a messenger of Satan sent to “buffet” him—so that he would not become prideful after seeing extraordinary visions of heaven. We know that Paul describes a metaphor for an ongoing affliction, and God allowed it to keep him humble.

What thorn has God allowed to keep you humble and not prideful? We all have areas in our lives where God needs to transform our hearts because change needs to take place. God chose not to remove the trial, but instead gave Paul an inward supply of His grace that was greater than the pain.

The Lord proves His strength best when we are at the end of our own abilities!