‘even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.’ 2 Corinthians 12:7(NLT)
‘Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. ‘ James 1:17(NLT)
‘We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.’ Romans 5:3-5(NLT)
“A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited,” Paul wrote.
There’s plenty of speculation about the exact nature of this thorn. Some commentators suggest it was an illness, others say persecution, and still, others say a physical malady like an eye condition or a speech defect. We really don’t know. Whatever this thorn was, it pierced Paul deeply. The thorn had Paul’s number.
But most commentators agree that the thorn-giver was God. This makes sense, doesn’t it? Why would sin or Satan want to keep Paul from being too conceited? They wouldn’t. No, God, Himself pressed this thorn into Paul’s flesh. God used a customized affliction—one that would not go away—to restrain Paul and keep him grounded. It made him weak, desperately weak. And this weakness drove him back to God.
But the thorn was also “a messenger of Satan to harass” Paul. Somehow the thorn was both the work of the devil and ordained by God. In other words, God used Satan to protect Paul from pride. Think about that. It’s mind-blowing. Jesus used the devil to produce godliness in Paul.
The next time it feels like your marriage is under assault by the enemy, remember it may be that God has fitted this weakness for your marriage to make you more desperate for Him. Whatever your thorn is, don’t sanitize it. Paul wasn’t afraid to recognize his thorn as a messenger from the evil one. But, like the crown of thorns pressed on Christ’s head, Paul saw that God had a good and glorious purpose behind the pain.
Thorns produce weakness. And thorn-constructed weakness creates the fruit necessary for marriages to go the distance; fruit achieved in no other manner than by flesh-splitting pain.
Are you willing to allow God to produce godliness in you via whatever means He deems best? Paul asked God three times to take away his thorn. Instead, God promised Paul grace and strength to get through. Ask God to show you His faithfulness.
from I Still Do by Dave Harvey