“So, to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the relations, 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.”
The phrase, “A thorn in my flesh, “is a metaphor that is a way for us to convey we have something in our life that is a constant source of irritation. It is something that annoys us and/or causes us trouble. The source could be physical. A health-related issue that we have had to learn to live with. It could be a person. It could be a lot of different things that for some reason you find annoying and have little to no power to control or eliminate. But if you have ever gotten a thorn stuck in your flesh, you understand just how annoying an irritant a metaphorical thorn in your flesh can be.
Paul had one that he wrote about in his second letter to the Corinthian church. He never said precisely what “it” was. So, we tend to speculate. Some say it was a person Paul had to deal with that was especially tiresome. Some say it was a physical malady…something wrong with Paul like a limp. Some think Paul was partially blind due to his Damascus Road experience while others think it could be something like anxiety. Having dealt with anxiety throughout my 20’s and 30’s, I can see how that could be a thorn in the flesh. I am also grateful; my anxiety is a thing of my past and does not impact my present.
But the truth is, it really doesn’t matter what Paul’s thorn was. What is important to remember from his story is that Paul dealt with it. If you are dealing with something in your life that is a thorn in your flesh, first of all I am sorry. They are not fun. Paul learned that thorns can also be a way God shines through in your life. Especially when you take those thorns in stride and don’t let them bog you down or make you angry that you have this “thorn” you must deal with. In fact, the best thing I think we can do, is to go on living our life in spite of our thorn.
One of the best things we can do, I think, is to be aware of our thorns, whatever they might be. Knowing what they are helps us to manage them carefully, and not let them get to us.
May your roses be many and the thorns in your life be few.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
Beth's Blog 