The POWER of the Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:6-10

New International Version

I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 Have you ever wanted God to do something about a situation, a person, a circumstance, etc.? You knew that it or they were bothering you, and all you need from God was to burst through and fix it. That is all. Just fix it Jesus!

It's funny how the Apostle Paul tells us of a similar situation with his life. He was struggling with something. We don't know what that "something" was, but we do know that it bothered him. However, God also let him know that He was NOT going to take it away from him. God was going to give Paul the grace to get through it.

 You see, God often allows those thorns to come in our sides/lives for several reasons. 

The thorn can (be):

1. An irritation that nags or frustrates you (trial or tribulation)
2. An irritation that reminds you of where you’re going
3. An asset, not a liability
4. Can release power
5. A boundary that protects you
6. Strengthen your character
7. Bring transformation and growth- roses bud from a thorny situation