“Thorn In My Side”

by Ana Adler | Original Blog Post: September 12, 2016

A lot of us complain and get mad at the “thorn” on our side.  But did we ever stop to think about what God is trying to change in us via that same thorn??

I begged and pleaded with God for SO MANY YEARS of my life to HELP me overcome the thorn in my flesh.  To take it away! In my walk, fall, get up, fall again, get back up  with the Lord I have learned that sometimes He gives us victory and sometimes He chooses not to relieve us in order that we will not become full of ourselves…    Let me explain:   In 2nd Corinthians 12: 7-9  Paul writes:  Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  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.

A thorn you ask??  A thorn is anything that keeps poking at you, a personal weakness, something you are struggling with, a person, a thing, a bad habit, an attitude, a state of mind, struggle with a sin, rebellion, pride, etc.   Something that keeps you on your knees once you realize that without God you will never overcome it.  And if He chooses not to take that thorn away, you will choose to rely on Him and trust Him because His grace is sufficient for you.  We all have a THORN (or in my case, several thorns)!

I struggle with unforgiveness…  I have been trying for ever to convince God to remove this character default of mine and replace it with His love and forgiveness and power.  Well, sometimes I do good and forgiveness flows right in BUT sometimes I am so hurt and offended by the offense or person that I keep rehearsing the offense in my thoughts and I remain injured.  I try and try and try to “let go and let God” but I fall.  Then, I have to get back on my knees and remind myself that without God it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to forgive the way God wants me to forgive.

Perhaps if it was very easy for me to let go of things I would become conceited and full of myself thinking that I am such an amazing person and that it’s easy to forgive.  God knows me better than anyone else, including me!  I choose to trust Him with my thorn.  I will continue to practice being Christlike.  I will continue to ask Him to give me victory over this sin in my life.  I will never give up trying to change myself – ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

God, thank you for this thorn that keeps me on my knees and strengthens my relationship with you even so more!!