Living His WordSýnishorn

If he wanted to, the Apostle Paul had a lot to boast about. He had personally encountered Jesus on the Damascus Road and had been personally commissioned by him. He was an apostle of the church and held great authority. He prayed for people and they were healed. He had some incredible revelations and his letters eventually became much of the New Testament. In order to keep him from becoming proud and boasting about his accomplishments, Paul was given a “thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan” to torment him.

There are many theories as to what the metaphor “thorn” actually refers to. Traditionally, it was thought to be a physical ailment of some kind. No one, however, can say for sure. Whatever it was, it caused him great torment. The Lord refused to take it away, because His “power works best in weakness.” God allowed this great man of God to be weakened by a thorn so that everyone would know that it was God who was working through him. After all, if Paul had the power on his own to do all the great things he did, he would have certainly removed the thorn himself.

If you are struggling with a weakness of some kind today and your faith and prayers have not yet met their breakthrough, then take comfort in Paul’s story. God’s grace is sufficient for you, as it was for him. You may be weak in yourself, but you are strong in the Lord. In the midst of the weakness, God’s grace will sustain and maintain you. And God’s power will manifest all the stronger through you in the special work He has given you to do.