“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 weakness so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” 2 Corinthians 12:7b-9
The theological consensus is Saint Paul’s thorn was some long-term medical conditions. I am going to call this utter poppycock, flapdoodle, and nonsense. I do so for a couple of reasons.
First, the power of Christ is the forgiveness of sins, not the healing of illnesses. Second, God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God’s grace and power are greatest when we seek His forgiveness - especially for those sins that really get the best of us - the ones we really hate but cannot stop.
I know it is hard for many people in the church to think of Paul as a sinner, which is why, I suspect, many theologians make his thorn physical. But Paul was human. Often he did not do the thing he wanted to do but did the very thing he hated. His sin weighed upon him - just like you and me; and he prayed God would take it away - just like you and; and for some reason God did not, just like you and me.
If God does not take your sin from you, know that He has a reason. It is not because He wants you to sin or approves of what you do. Rather, he wants you to trust in Him completely rather than in yourself. He wants you to know His grace - his power of forgiveness made perfect in your weakness. The thorn in your flesh not as punishment or God’s indifference. They are His way of using even the evil of this world to bring you closer to him and to build you up.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are gracious and merciful. I thank you that you have given me your Son so I might have forgiveness for my sins - especially those I truly hate but cannot master. May the thorns in my flesh bring me closer to you - my only hope - and may the cause me to trust and rely more deeply on you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.