Strength Through Weakness: Paul's Thorn

Yesterday I talked about the “thorn” that was placed in Paul’s side or his flesh as it were. You got one of those in you? A thorn is something that seems so small but, in reality, comes to occupy and consume all of our thoughts.Our thorns...these are the financial difficulties that seem to persist, or the sickness that’s strangling us, the increasing number of fights with our spouse, the forgiveness we can’t bring ourselves to release, this loneliness we can’t seem to rid ourselves of...And like a thorn under our feet, though well-hidden, it still hurts us all the same...and sometimes very badly.In any case, Paul had to have been especially tormented...he prayed three times, pleading, that God would deliver him from this thorn.Are you suffering from a thorn in your flesh? Know that even if it seems insignificant, even if no one else can see it, Jesus understands the suffering caused by this thorn, whatever it may be.“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." 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 12:7-10 Be Nice, Grace Wins