What’s Your Thorn? - Robert Schaetzle
To protect the Apostle Paul from reliance on self, the Lord would not remove his thorn.
“And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought 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.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 RSV
If we’re truly honest with ourselves, we all have some kind of thorn, a weakness that keeps us more dependent upon God’s grace and strength than self.
It could be anything, like an unwanted fear caused by anxiety over something that doesn’t even exist. Maybe we have asked our Lord for a way of escape, more than three times. But each time, like Paul, we are reminded of His grace. God wants us to recognize that our weaknesses are for our own good, to keep us from self-reliance and pride.
God calls us to rest in His grace and authority that supersedes all of our fears and inadequacies. We need not be anxious for anything, finding all of our strength and worthiness in knowing Christ Jesus. Like Paul, we do not need to fear our weakness; we too can boast in them, recognizing that our promise of hope is in the grace and power of Christ, which is far greater than all our thorns. When we are weak, He is strong.
Robert serves in a ‘Sharing and Caring Ministry’ in Sunnyvale, CA. Contact |
