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“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.’”

This is the somewhat famous “thorn in the flesh” passage. The apostle Paul describes some pain, limitation or struggle that he constantly dealt with. You and I can likely think of “thorns” in our flesh or lives – that ongoing health condition; that relationship challenge; that person at work; the uncertainty about work; the unwise choices of a child; the frustration of plans; the fight for mental health.

We can identify with Paul’s prayer. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.” If only we didn’t have this thorn in our lives. If only it was resolved. If only it would go away. Yet in this instance, the Lord said no 3 times to Paul’s request.

Yet it wasn’t a cold no. It was not a “Just shut up and put up. Life is hard. Deal with it.” It was a compassionate no. The Lord did not ignore the thorn and Paul’s pain. He revealed to Paul a different way of dealing with it.

“My grace is sufficient for you.” You already have a way to deal with the thorn. It’s not your first choice but it’s a more than adequate choice. It is sufficient. It is the grace of the Lord. Instead of continuing to plead with the Lord for the thorn’s removal, we turn to the Lord for His grace and strength to bear with the thorn.

As we depend on God for His grace and strength to bear with it, we may begin to see some good coming out of the thorn’s presence – Increasing closeness with God; Greater awareness of our limitations; Growing trust in God’s ability instead of our own; Openness to other’s help for our weakness; God’s ministry to us and others through our thorn.

It is okay to ask God to remove our thorns. Sometimes He does. But if He doesn’t or if He decides it will take some time, remember He has not abandoned you. He is more than sufficient to help us bear with the sharpest thorns.

“O Lord God, we don’t like thorns. They remind us of the fallen world we live in. They expose our frailty. Yet thank you for your presence and help in dealing with our thorns. Help us to trust you more and discover your sufficient grace. Open our eyes to others who deal with severe thorns today. Empower us to be part of your sufficient grace to them.”