Influencers Weekly Devotional

The Process and Blessing of the Thorn

by

Rocky Fleming

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 1 Corinthian 12:7-9

How would you like to be walking through a beautiful forest while having the time of your life and all of a sudden have a large thorn penetrate your side? I’m not talking about a prick on the finger. I’m talking about a thorn that deeply embeds itself, and remains a part of your life for the rest of your life. It is something that cannot be removed, and will stick you when you move in the wrong way because it has now made your side a sensitive area. During the night you might turn over in your sleep and it stabs you and wakes you. In every endeavor for the rest of your life, this thorn has to be considered, and worked around and not allowed to flare up. This would be a terrible way to live life wouldn’t it? The Apostle Paul would agree with you if your answer is yes, for it was something that lived with him, only his “thorn” was a metaphor for the reader to connect the idea of an ever-present harassment in his life. In truth, Paul’s “thorn” was an evil presence of some kind that lived with him. There’s a lot of debate over what the “thorn” was. But, it doesn’t really matter what it was, only that it had a purpose. Some people would point to this condition in Paul who served God with all his heart and effort and ask, “Why would God allow such a thing? After all, wouldn’t Paul have been in a better condition to serve God if he hadn’t had the limitation?” Good question all of us have likely asked. The answer is, apparently not. In fact, the “thorn” was permitted to be part of Paul’s life to keep him safe from a condition that would ruin his influence, which is conceit, and to also give him another power of influence that could not be produced by a mere man. This seems rather paradoxical that a “thorn” that produces weakness would also produce a greater strength, would you agree? However, this scripture points out that God’s power in Paul’s life was made perfect in his weakness, and the “thorn” produced the weakness. How can this be? Let’s find out: What we see in the Process of the Thorn is a strategy God uses to enable His man to accomplish great things for Him. No doubt it is not an easy burden to carry this thorn, no matter what it is. When our “thorn” is really stabbing us we cry out, “Why does this have to be this way? Lord, please remove it!” And yet the “thorn’ remains. Then we cry out, “Why won’t You remove it? I don’t understand!” But, the “thorn” still remains. Eventually we no longer ask why we have it, and for it to be removed. We simply endure the “thorn’s” stabs, until we begin to see the reason for it being with us. It takes some time, maybe a long time, before we connect the dots. It will require a whole lot of courage, surrender and trust for the blinders to fall away from our perspective so we can begin to see. However, the Blessing of the Thorn eventually comes into view as it did with the Apostle Paul, and our perspective will be changed from self-pity to thankfulness for the “thorn” God has allowed in our life. Did I mention it requires a lot of courage? Over the last year, I have talked to many men who report they are being pruned, sifted or flat out attacked by something that harasses their peace. This harassment often disturbs their sleep, their relationships, their confidence, and life’s equilibrium. It is annoying at best, and sometimes downright disconcerting when it really digs in. Maybe you are in this group of men? If so, do not despair. You may be entering a period of life when God permits a “thorn” to join you, and this in turn will prepare the way for great blessings to flow to you and then flow through you, creating a spiritual legacy that will follow your life’s journey. I have found it to encourage God’s men to understand that this is a consistent process, and one of God’s strategies for creating His strength in a man. When we begin to have the “thorn”, our normal tendency is to not see it the way God does. Look at Paul with the way he initially handled it. He asked three times for God to remove it. He did not want the stinking thing. Three times God said no to Paul’s request. We too will ask God to remove the “thorn”. I don’t know anyone who initially embraces it. I know I didn’t. It is a natural thing for us to ask that it be removed. But, if it is not removed, the ways we respond to its presence will either create a blessing, or it will keep us locked in self-pity. It is our choice. As with the Apostle Paul and many Believers who followed him, God prepares His man for a great fruit bearing time by reminding us of our great need to stay close to Him and depend on Him, or else the success that follows will pull us away from Him. We cannot stay close to Him if we are conceited and spiritually prideful. That was the first reason for Paul’s “thorn”, which was to keep him close to God as he invaded enemy territory. If our ego gets the best of us, and we become enamored by our success, we will be in great risk of danger, for we have walked out of the Shadow of Almighty God and into the enemy’s back yard. It would have happened with Paul had God not safeguarded him from pride by using the “thorn” strategically in his life. God was protecting His warrior from this. The “thorn” actually became a shield of protection for Paul. The next reason for Paul’s “thorn” was to empower him with God’s power. God’s power in His man’s life, as great as it could be, will always be countered by an unwilling, prideful person’s attempts to do things for God, but not with Him, which would have been the case with Paul. Why would one do this? Go back to the first problem and the reason for the “Thorn”. It is because of our pride and conceit to think that we don’t need God’s help to get something done. We think we know what needs to be done. “Watch me work, God!” we say by our actions, while all along we grow frustrated with how truly inept we are in getting things accomplished. The fact is, there is always some frustrating obstacle that stands in the way of our plans, while we never realize that our battle is against principalities of resistance that are far stronger than our feeble attempts. Unfortunately, most of us will not admit to this or turn from this without the “thorn” humbling us, and causing us to seek God’s help. Such was the case with Paul. So what happens to God’s man when he finally connects the dots and gets the perspective that the “thorn” has been an enabling gift rather than a debilitating one? He begins to rely on it. Look how Paul sums up his thoughts on the “thorn” when he connected the dots: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV) How did Paul react? He thanked God for the “thorn.” He praised Him for what it was doing for him, rather than complaining about having it. He saw the “thorn” as a gift from God that helped him be the man he hoped to be, and to bring honor to his King. What about you? How are you handling your thorn if you have one? Are you willing to see the “thorn” God’s way and embrace it as coming from Him? Did I mention something about courage? I sure did, for it requires courage to thank God for the “thorn” in our life. It will go against every fiber to ask God to keep it there if it will accomplish His great work in our life. But, getting the right perspective will turn those thorns into a rose garden, and this rose garden will offer a pleasant aroma to our world around us. By the way, below every rose is a thorn, and what comes from it has the aroma of godliness. Allow your King to make a godly man out of you, and the “thorn” will help accomplish this purpose. Download file