And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Paul had a thorn in the flesh. There are many theories by better Bible scholars than I, and they don't agree on exactly what that thorn was. We know a few things for sure, and that is what I will stick to here. First, this whatever it was, whether an illness or other kind of physical weakness, pain or problem, came about after he began to serve God and became an effective servant of Jesus and minister of the gospel. We also know that it wasn't fun, enjoyable or comfortable. Paul prayed three times, and I personally believe that it would have been four times or more had the Holy Spirit not given an answer. And we know that, whether instantly or after a time of reflection, acceptance and surrender we don't know, he actually came to take pleasure in, the Greek reads to relish, the shortcoming rather than complaining and becoming angry at God because he didn't get his way.
Now here are some things about that situation that amaze me. First, while I have no reason to read into the text that the problem became worse, we can be sure that it didn't get better. To get better would be healing and restoration, even if not a complete healing. So while he may have learned to cope and deal with, possibly tolerate the pain of, whatever illness, handicap, physical situation he had to endure, it didn't get fun. It was not a pleasant experience or easy thing to deal with. We don't pray for relief from those. Nor do I believe for a minute that Paul developed masochism and begin to confuse pleasure and pain.
So why did he relish the thorn instead of crying about not getting petals? And while we're asking that question, why didn't the Lord heal him? He was healed in other areas, at other times. He was kept from dying after being bitten by a very venomous viper, just to name one. The reason that I asked the second question before answering the first one is that the answers go together. They are two questions that share an answer. When we have it easy, or good, or things are well in pretty much every area of our lives, two things can easily happen.
We can forget that it's not us and begin feeling and acting as though we are self sufficient, which as everyone who has been freed from an area of bondage only after realizing that we are not self sufficient but powerless to break our own chains and in need of God knows, feeling and acting self sufficient is a very dangerous place to be. It can also hurt our witness. I know that may be hard to believe when so many prominent preachers seem to say and show that in their opinion health and wealth are the best witness and method of drawing people to God. But it's not the case, and when you hear those who turn away from Christianity in disgust after seeing people bilked out of millions that are going into tailored suits and cars and other things that are more expensive than the people donating will make in a lifetime instead of feeding the homeless, helping the sick and other such things to ease the suffering in the world, it's easy to see that you lose more than you gain, souls at least, that way. And let's not forget Job. He had it all. Health, wealth, family, friends, everything a man could want to the point that when God bragged on his faithfulness, Satan's response was well, duh, why wouldn't he be faithful? Look at how blessed he is, look at all he's got to lose.
People are a lot like the devil that way. Of course he can walk with God, he has no problems. It's not true of course, everyone has problems, even though not all are visible to the world. But when life looks easy, it isn't very convincing to tell people to lean on God. Who are you telling me how to use a crutch? You're walking just fine on your own. The appearance of self sufficiency doesn't give glory to God, it gives glory to the person whose life looks easy and enviable. Send that guy who has thirty years sober, with no scars, a family, a great job, his own home paid for, who hasn't been in jail for at least three decades, etc. to talk to a hopeless drunk and perhaps his story, his testimony, will get through to the man who's hurting. But it's just as likely that the drunk will think, if not say, that of course the man doesn't drink, he got everything back. If his life was that good, he would be able to stay sober too. Although he couldn't. And neither is the fully recovered drunk staying sober because of his circumstances. He's relying on God to stay free, to stay sober, but it isn't as easy to see from the outside.
I know a man with around 30 years of sobriety who has been a blessing and help and inspiration in my life for years. His story has always impressed and inspired me. But when he got cancer a few years ago and stayed sober, that told me more than his previous 20+ years did about his relationship with God, the ability of God to keep him free regardless of the circumstance. Yes, he got some glory. I just gave him a little more. But what is he getting glory for? Leaning on God. The only way a drunk can stay sober in the face of cancer is a miracle of God. The real glory goes to God, which is where this man I'm talking about would want it, I assure you.
Now. I don't think for a second that my friend is happy he has cancer or is taking pleasure in it. But I know that he is grateful for God's grace through the situation and very happy that God is getting glory and that those newcomers whom he talks to can see that in the face of something they could never get through without a drink, he is dry because of the love and power of God. That's awesome. And that is what gave Paul pleasure in the midst of being denied healing. When those whom he ministered to saw that his life was not all roses, but that he had to endure thorns as they did and yet remained faithful and trusted God, it was a much better testament to God's power and love and faithfulness than it ever would have had Paul not had any visible hardships.
It says more about our faith when not everything is going our way. It's a better witness. And it keeps us honest about not being self sufficient. We need God. We need to remember that we need God. And we need those who we would help to deliver from their bondage to see that we need God, that God gives us the grace to walk with Him in the good and the bad, Sometimes an amazing and miraculous healing or meeting of a need will help the person, make the witness more powerful and give more glory to God than anything else. But sometimes that healing or miracle would detract from an even greater miracle, the miracle that is available to all who turn to Jesus, the miracle of sufficient grace that gets us through and help us endure all things and makes it possible to have relationship with and walk with God. Unfortunately, from our place of pain and discomfort and suffering we can not be the best judge of which result would be best for us, Him and those we would help. So when the suffering comes, pray for the miracle. Don't stop. Keep praying and asking for a miracle until you get an answer.
But, if the answer is no to the healing, take comfort, even pleasure, in knowing that His grace is sufficient and that you will be constantly aware of what too many believers with easier lives forget, He is there when we need Him. And take pleasure in the glory that your life will bring to God and how others will see a piece of who He is because of that thorn. He knows what is hard for us to believe at times, that our relationship with Him will be better because of the pain, that we will trust Him more and have a deeper love for Him during or after that situation than we would have without it or with it being removed. And one day, we will be fully restored, but until then, let us praise Him from amidst the thorns.
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