Well I have been struggling with my own personal thorn and I have asked God to remove it several times and like Paul, my answer seems to be the same (that God's grace is sufficient and His strength will be made perfect in my weakness). We don't like to be weak, nor do we like being imperfect (even though we know we'll never be perfect). We spend all day at the beauty shop getting just the right hair style. We take our time to get dressed, picking out the shoes and purse that match our outfit exquisitely. We make sure our suit has the perfect tie with just a hint of blue in it that will bring out the blue in our slacks. We want to be perfect. We don't like weakness. We won't cry in front of our spouse because we don't want to show weakness. We hide our feelings when we feel that we are getting to close to anyone so we won't get hurt. We don't like weakness.
But in God's world, we aren't perfect and we don't have to be strong. God will be our strength. God will be our perfection. I have struggled with asking questions of why? God, why have you allowed this to happen to me? Why does it seem I have no peace? Why would you bring me this far to leave me? Why, Lord? And His answer seems to be the same: "My grace is sufficient and My strength will be made perfect in your weakness." As I write this and sigh with a deep breath, I can be thankful that I don't feel the tears well up in my eyes...I won't lie, I have cried myself to sleep a many nights; I have cried and prayed with my face to floor; I have cried in the car calling out to Jesus! I have asked God over and over what is the plan? What's the next step? I have questioned my very existence and my purpose. ...But God. "My grace is sufficient and My strength will be made perfect in your weakness." Well Lord I am weak, weary, and worn. I need your grace. I need your strength.
Sometimes God allows us to go through things - not for us - but for others; for our testimony to help someone else. Sometimes it is because we need to grow. Sometimes it's preparation. Whatever the reason is for me...I'll remember "His grace is sufficient..." and if He removes the thorn too soon, I may not get all that I need to go to the next level. As Paul stated, if it had not been for the thorn, he would not be the man he was destined to be. He began to see the limitation as a gift...a gift from God and Paul allowed God's strength to move in on his weakness. Sometimes we need the thorn...to make us who we are destined to be.
Lord, help me to accept Your grace. Comfort me as I bear this thorn. Give me peace of mind and keep me in Your Will. To God be the Glory! Thank You Lord, for my trials for I know they are just a stepping stone to get me closer to You. Amen.
