Get This Thorn Out of Me

How many times did Paul ask God to pull the thorn out of his side? A few, right? How many times have I asked God to yank the thorn out of my life? Countless times. Seriously. I have asked Him so many times to take the thorn from out of my side that it is a wonder He listens to me at all anymore. Surely He should have grown tired by now of my pleas to pull that thorn out of me. But He has not grown tired of me. If He is tired of anything, I believe He is tired of my not accepting His grace, His mercy, His love, His compassion, His comfort, and all that He has for me. “But God,” I plea, “That’s all good and well. I’m glad you have all of that for me, but what I really want is for you to take this thorn out of my side! Please God!” I have not yet given up pleading, and He has not given up offering me His love and grace.

Unfortunately, and fortunately, my thorn is different than most thorns I have heard described by others. Unfortunately, because I cannot recall ever meeting anyone with the thorn that presses, digs, cuts, nags, jabs, etc. at me, I often feel alone with my thorn. God reminds me I am not alone at all. He is with me, but still I yearn to be free from my thorn – and to know other people who can share with me their experiences with their similar thorn. But this is not the case – not yet anyway. So God remains before me, continuing to offer His love and grace. And, sadly, I often have my head hanging down looking at my thorn, missing what God is offering me.

Fortunately, my thorn is different than most thorns I have heard described by others. I wrote that, didn’t I? What do I mean? If my thorn were just like everybody else’s, I would spend all my time running from person to person figuring out how to deal with my thorn. I would constantly compare myself to them, constantly try to follow their instructions in dealing with their thorn, and – Well, do you see the point? I would get lost in other people instead of fall into the embrace of the Lord and become more intimate in my relationship with Him. If the truth be known, I am prone anyway to running from person to person looking for an answer. But alas, I know they do not hold my answer. God does. And, because of the intensity of my thorn, I have plenty of reason as it presses into me to press into God.

Fortunate or unfortunate, or both, I have one conclusion about my thorn. So long as this thorn continues to press itself into me, I need to press into God and hear and heed the words of Paul:

2Co 12:7 KJV  “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 
2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 
2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

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