LEARNING TO LIVE WITH IT
"There was given to me a thorn in the flesh."
I'm of the opinion, only Godly saints, used of the Lord to be a blessing to others, carry a thorn in their flesh. All efforts to identify Paul's thorn are at best only speculation. God ordained all who possess a "grieving thorn," as Ezekiel refers to it, can relate to Paul's, because of the very fact of not knowing. God's thorn is a reminder of who God is and what we are. Lest we be puffed up with pride, the thorn punctures our inflated egos to let the air out.
It is something one bears in his or her body 24/7. Always conscious of it, but not always plagued by it. It is not something that will come to pass, but is here to stay. No amount of prayer will remove it. Paul spent fourteen years asking it be taken from him. To do so is to have the Lord say to us, as He did to Moses, "Speak no more unto me of this matter." Remember, Grace does not subtract, it is an addition. That is, the problem is not removed. Grace comes along side of it.
Therefore, our choice is either to endure it, or as the apostle did, embrace it. The latter is not difficult once you determine the thorn is a gift from His hand. Although one cannot change the situation, he or she can change their attitude concerning it.
It is important that thorn bearers come to grips with the fact it is a life-long affliction, and when things get bad from time to time, remind ourselves Jesus knows what it's like to have a thorn in the flesh. “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head.” ~ Matt. 27:29
God uses our thorn to tack back the veil that leads us into the Holy of Holies. (A Puritan Saying)
* OUR CHARACTER STUDIES WILL RESUME TOMORROW.