Pastor Tom Johnson, July 4, 2021
Paul does not tell us exactly what the thorn in his flesh is. The thorn may be his declining eyesight. His thorn may be an illness or chronic physical impairment. The thorn could even be people who opposed and undermined his ministry. Whatever the thorn is, Paul prays for God to remove it three times. Like we often do, Paul prays again and again for an answer to his prayer. And also like us, we may not get the answer we want but the answer we need. Paul tells us this story about prayer to be an encouragement to us. Jesus’ answer to Paul’s prayer is not just for Paul. It is for all of us who feel trapped.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul says that because of this power in weakness that he can find peace and contentment in every difficulty because, he says, “Whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” This grace-filled understanding of life is only possible because Paul takes a hard look at himself. He understands that he can often be his own worst enemy. He knows his own limitations. He acknowledges his need for God’s mercy and help. It is an amazingly vulnerable moment for him to share his struggle with pride and an inflated sense of self in this letter to the church in Corinth which is now known throughout the world. In order to keep him from being too full of himself, God allowed this splinter to get into and under his skin. Jesus encourages Paul to understand his wound to have greater purpose. This thorny reminder of his pride and weakness is now a blessing. He has no where else to turn but a humble reliance upon Christ and his strength—to know that Jesus always provides sufficient grace and that his power shows itself when we are weak.
Paul clearly wants us to apply his very specific thorn to the many thorns that afflict all of us. He names a few—weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. He’s content through all these because of the assurance of Christ’s grace at work through these challenges. Paul wants us to enjoy that same blessed assurance. What are the thorn or thorns in your flesh this morning? I’m going to take a moment and think about mine.
Have you prayed about these sticky, sharp, and annoying things that keep getting under your skin? Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 to “cast all our cares upon him because he cares for us.” It is a courageous and vulnerable thing to do but have you and I considered how our pride can play a role in our own suffering like Paul does in our text? I love what Proverbs chapter 3 says about managing our own pride,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
There are great antidotes to pride in our Scripture today. It’s the realization that God is more on your side than you are yourself. He wants to use everything in our lives—from the cozy to the painful—the soft to the thorny—to mold and shape us into the people of God he wants us to be. It’s the truth that we are all weak and needy. We are all God’s work in progress. We need the mercy and grace of our heavenly Father. Jesus assures us that he is there even when we cannot remove the painful and pesky splinters ourselves. It’s the truth that there will always be trouble in this world. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities of darkness. But much more than that...It’s the truth that God will never leave nor forsake us. He will not abandon us as orphans. His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weakness. Paul embraces his weakness because of what it teaches him—it teaches him not to rely on his own resources but upon the one who is both our Creator and Sustainer. It’s wisdom to realize that we also cannot win our battles on our own—or even fight them by our own strength. Contentment is acceptance of things they way they are but also the confidence that God is at work in, through, and in spite of those things. The 13th century Persian poet Rumi said it this way: “The wound is the place where light gets in.” The thorn in Paul’s flesh opened him up to the persistent grace and relentless strength of God.
What a powerful way to look at whatever has gotten under our skin. God wants to use it to bless us one way or another. God wants to bring us the light of his presence, love, forgiveness, and life. It is both humbling and empowering—everything we need for life and godliness—All this from the one whose brow and head was pierced with a crown of thorns—whose side was pierced with a spear—whose hands and feet were pierced with nails. Those wounds are also the place where light gets in—the light of forgiveness, life, and salvation—the light that always conquers the darkness—the light that is Victor over all evil, death, and the grave. His grace is sufficient. He cries out “It is finished!” We experience his grace through our hardship. We discover his power through our weakness.
Jesus loves me. This I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to him belong,
They are weak, he is strong.
(Poem by Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915), 1860)
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