In 2Corinthians 12:7, the Apostle Paul talks about his thorn in the flesh. Most of us know what it feels like to be pricked by something sharp, perhaps by a needle of some kind or by an actual thorn from a plant. It’s not a pleasant experience, but in most cases the hurt goes away shortly after the prick is felt. When we read this verse in 2Corinthians 12, we instantly get a sense that this was more than a prick that Paul was referencing. His thorn in the flesh dug in and was at times very grievous to him. Many of us are dealing with situations like these in our lives. Whether it’s challenges in our marriages, other relationships, finances, health, or the workplace, many of us have thorns in the flesh. Like Paul, these are situations that the devil has sent to discourage us, and even after we think we’ve given it to God, the thorn keeps pricking. Because of this constant discomfort, many are asking, “What am I doing wrong?”
1Thessalonians 4:13(KJV) tells us, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” The desire that we not be ignorant regarding spiritual matters is a recurring theme with our Heavenly Father. Throughout His Word, He tells us that He wants us to be extremely knowledgeable regarding the things of His Kingdom. In Hosea 4:6, He tells us that His people are destroyed because of ignorance. God doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. He wants us saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, and full of His love and grace continually.
One of the most important things that we should not be ignorant about is the devices of satan. When it comes to obstacles and adversity, it isn’t so much about what we are doing wrong as it is about how the devil is using our ignorance to tear us down. I have personally spoken with theologians and religious leaders who openly admit they don’t believe the devil exists. Like many people of the world, they see him as some halloween character in fairytales and movies. 2Corinthians 4:4(NLT) says, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” Blinding people to who he is and what he does is one of the devil’s most harmful tricks.
Any believer that is serious about pleasing God through the Lord Jesus Christ knows that the devil is real. In John 10:10, Jesus Christ called the devil a thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. In John 8:44, Jesus calls the devil the father of lies. As God’s children, we are tested, tempted, and troubled by those under demonic influence; but because of Jesus Christ, we are not defeated. Isaiah 54:17(NKJV) tells us, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.” As Christians, we understand that weapons will be formed against us by the devil, but these weapons will not prosper. So yes, sometimes we will be pricked, and pricked hard, but God has given us a strategy to overcome.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2Corinithans 12:8 that he begged the Lord three different times to take away the thorn in his flesh. This was not a light thing that Paul was dealing with. Many of us that are being hit with troubles and tribulations know that they can be agonizing. The enemy designs them to bombard our senses so that we feel overwhelmed by circumstances. The darts keep coming, and our feelings tell us to be alarmed and full of fear, but the WORD tells us to trust God, for He is our strength and shield.
Regarding the three times that He sought the Lord, Paul tells us in 2Corinthians 12:9(NLT), “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” Many of us have been led to believe that God told Paul in this verse that he’d need to continue taking this abuse from the devil, and that he must continue suffering in weakness. If that was the entire reality of what God conveyed here, it would be hard for us to obtain any degree of faith from Paul’s testimony.
God said, “My grace is all you need.” Heavenly Father offered Paul a way towards victory. It’s not our grace, but GOD’s grace, and He tells us that His grace is ALL we need. What God demands from us is total dependency on Him. Not a little bit here and a little bit there. Not trusting God fully is the answer to the question, “What am I doing wrong?” He tells us in Proverbs 3:5 to trust in Him with ALL our hearts, and we must not depend on our own understanding. Heavenly Father knows that when something in our worlds is out of place, instead of focusing on Him, we have a tendency to focus on what we’re missing. Instead of focusing on God, we focus on the man we haven’t met, the finances we don’t yet have or the bill that’s due. We make the problem the focus instead of the solution.
Heavenly Father’s power works best in weakness, and all of us are weak. Jesus Christ tells us in John 15:5 that apart from him, you and I can’t do anything. But if we remain in Christ and let his words remain in us, we’ll stay connected to the Father. It’s this staying connected to God that places us in a position of strength. Yes, very often we are in situations where it seems as though we’re being pricked more than our fair share, but God’s grace is the solution. Not only must we give the situation to God, but we must give ourselves to Him. We must totally surrender and yield so that He can work through us in a greater way. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“It Keeps Pricking, Even After You’ve Given It to God” written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.