thorns: antidote to pride.

Like a splinter that keeps catching on something that I just can’t seem to pluck out, I have some nasty things God has not yet removed for me. Things I pray He will dislodge, but hasn’t yet. This takes me to the Apostle Paul. As he addressed Christians in Corinth, in his second letter, he refers to a ‘thorn’ that God was leaving him with. He even pleaded with God three times to remove it. Yet it remained. Paul explains that this thorn was meant to keep him from exalting himself, from relying on himself, and only in his fleshly weakness of affliction, would Gods power be perfected.

Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Honestly, I would much rather have the splinter removed and not have something to keep snagging myself on, poking into me. There are thorny things I have asked God to remove from me but He has not, at least not yet. Things would be easier, more comfortable for sure. But for the purposes of Christ alone being exalted, and Gods power be displayed, I am fully aware there are afflictions that will remain. My weakness drives me to press into Gods strength. My insufficiency helps me depend upon Christs sufficiency.

In the letter, Paul is explaining to fellow Christians in Corinth about the experiences he and Timothy have had. The two of them have been through a lot on their missionary travels. They have suffered persecution and seen many Christians led astray by false teachings. He wrote the letters as encouragement to the people, but also as instruction to hold fast to the truth and remain diligent in following Christ. In this letter he revealed how troubled he was over the number of Christians falling aside. In order to be more fervent in his instruction, he gave insight into his own personal struggles and felt it important to share with them some thorny affliction he had.

In chapter one, Paul begins the letter with how well and faithfully God comforts the afflicted. That suffering with Christ brings about the comfort of Christ. “If we are afflicted it is for our comfort and salvation…which produces patient endurance”. (V5) When he shares with the Corinthians how he and Timothy felt despair during their Asian journeys, he believed their despair was felt so they would not trust in themselves, but in God alone.

Later in chapter 10, Paul shares his awareness of spiritual forces at work to persecute them. Spiritual forces of an enemy sort, that could gain strongholds on their thoughts and lead them astray. I wonder if his thorn was a negative thought pattern, or temptation of some sort? Nevertheless, Paul wanted them and us, to realize we are not helpless victims to our thoughts; that we can turn them over to Christ. For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

In chapter 12, when Paul refers to a thorn he is afflicted with, we don’t learn exactly what the thorn is - he does not tell us. We can infer that it was something that both frustrated and troubled him. He pleaded with God three times to remove this affliction. He wanted it gone, just like I do mine, and you probably do yours. Yet according to his writings, it served as a constant reminder of his need to rely on God’s grace and strength. That he in his own ability was unable to walk righteously.

What we can learn from Pauls anguish, is that we are given ‘thorns’ that significantly weaken us, in order for Christ’s power to be displayed in us. One observation I notice in this letter is the number of times Paul uses the word ‘boast’. He repeats the word several times in chapters 10, 11 and 12. This reveals that he was in a humbling headspace and making it known that pride is not only anti God, but useless in developing the people into strong and faithful evangelists. Perhaps his thorn was pride. Or self reliance. Or self sufficiency. We know that since pride is the root of all sin (self over God), anything God gives us, or allows us to have, that will keep us humble and reliant on him is a very good gift. Satan would never give Paul a thorn in the flesh for the purpose of squashing pride, but God in His sovereignly can use even an evil plot for good. Gregory the Great once said (AD 540–604), “Satan unknowingly serves the purposes of God’s hidden justice”. Satan is used unknowingly at times, by God, as an instrument to bolster faith or prove the righteousness of believers. Gods power is far greater, and His plans rule over all others.

Paul’s thorn in the flesh could have represented some spiritual struggle or temptation, suggesting that Paul grappled with internal or external spiritual challenges that tested his faith and commitment to Christ. These could have been ongoing battles with sin, doubt, or temptations. His thorn could have also been a physical ailment that caused some physical suffering. Perhaps we aren’t told exactly what the thorn is so we might be able to apply it to our lives whatever our unique struggle is.

Another reason God may have given the apostle an affliction seems to be to perfect the power of Christ within him. The term “made perfect” means to fulfill or bring to completion. “My power is made perfect in weakness” means that the power of Christ is fulfilled, or brought to its intended fullness, through our weakness, not our own strength. God designed it this way. In some situations or afflictions in our lives, our only consolation can be found through Christ. We may think the only consolation is a change of circumstance but God is clear, our consolation need be in Christ alone. In this I think of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns on his head during his crucifixion. What if the thorns around the Kings head were to illustrate Gods perfect power in the weak flesh of Jesus as he was sacrificed? What if those thorns were necessary so that His mission could be made perfect and complete?

As we think on what our own ‘thorns’ might be, we can trust that if God is allowing it, He can use it to grow our faith and glorify Himself. Even if we don’t have a choice in the affliction, we have a choice in how we respond to it. I recently went through some health scares that gave me many beautiful opportunities to trust God, and to tether myself to Christ. Did I pray those thorns be removed, of course. Did I fail to trust at times and let fears override my faith, yes. But I also know God is teaching me so many valuable things during this time. Lately, my prayer is more for His peace to cover and protect me, rather then thorns be removed. The thorns that remain do in fact serve a mighty purpose. We know He is faithful, even when we are not faithful to Him. He is the power of the entire universe and the culmination of present and eternity in one, and can do things beyond our understanding. He is infinitely able to heal. His reach is wider and broader than any harm the enemy can ever inflict on us. He will use our afflictions to stretch our capacity to experience Jesus in new and fresh ways. He can be trusted and we can boast in Him alone.