Removing My Thorn
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
What is the thorn in your side? 2 Corinthians reveals Paul’s vision and the thorn in his side. He begs God to remove it, saying, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Yet, despite his plea, God did not remove the thorn. Should He remove yours? Maybe, but it all depends. As we have discussed in the last couple days, we all have at least one Achilles heel (if not more). And this is a weak point or area in our lives that we struggle with. The examples are limitless. Our Achilles heel can come from anywhere and be anything. We also live in a world where all believers want to fix each other. All humans want to fix each other!
We want to remove all the bad and only keep the good. And while this sounds good in theory, this is exactly what Paul was asking God to do. Paul did not have the strength on his own to remove the thorn. Maybe you can relate. You know you are struggling with something, and you have tried time and time again to remove it from your life. You think “If I just try harder.” But harder doesn’t do it.
You know you need God. Maybe others know you are struggling with it and see your need to remove it. Or maybe they don’t because you have hidden it. Either way, God is the only answer. Seek God and ask Him to remove it. Maybe He will, and you can rejoice over the victory. Or maybe He won’t.
Then what? We can still rejoice! Because as 2 Corinthians tells us, His power is manifested in our weakness! God will use your weakness in ways you cannot even imagine. We always want to eliminate weakness, but God might just have a different plan for you!
What is the thorn in your side? 2 Corinthians reveals Paul’s vision and the thorn in his side. He begs God to remove it, saying, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Yet, despite his plea, God did not remove the thorn. Should He remove yours? Maybe, but it all depends. As we have discussed in the last couple days, we all have at least one Achilles heel (if not more). And this is a weak point or area in our lives that we struggle with. The examples are limitless. Our Achilles heel can come from anywhere and be anything. We also live in a world where all believers want to fix each other. All humans want to fix each other!
We want to remove all the bad and only keep the good. And while this sounds good in theory, this is exactly what Paul was asking God to do. Paul did not have the strength on his own to remove the thorn. Maybe you can relate. You know you are struggling with something, and you have tried time and time again to remove it from your life. You think “If I just try harder.” But harder doesn’t do it.
You know you need God. Maybe others know you are struggling with it and see your need to remove it. Or maybe they don’t because you have hidden it. Either way, God is the only answer. Seek God and ask Him to remove it. Maybe He will, and you can rejoice over the victory. Or maybe He won’t.
Then what? We can still rejoice! Because as 2 Corinthians tells us, His power is manifested in our weakness! God will use your weakness in ways you cannot even imagine. We always want to eliminate weakness, but God might just have a different plan for you!
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments