What's Your Thorn?

Over a year ago I wrote a blog post entitled “Worthy To Be Praised.” In that post, I shared briefly on the topic of Paul’s thorn in his side. I had mentioned that perhaps Paul’s thorn was some form of physical pain (although, this is not clearly stated in scripture). Whatever the thorn was, be it physical pain or not, it was something Paul was continually dealing with, something he had to keep in a crucified state and laid down at the feet of Jesus. Today I would like us to take a look at this thorn, this continual struggle that needs to be crucified on a daily, hourly or even a minute by minute bases.    

Roses and thorns
In the plant world, roses were created with thorns. God made them that way on purpose, not to harm the rose, but to protect it. I want us to think about this concept just for a moment...the very thing that brings pain to a predator (the thorn) is the very thing that brings life and protection to the rose. I find it ironic that our hardest struggles can sometimes turn out to be our saving grace, and our Heavenly Father ingeniously designed it that way. The very sin that trips us up time and time again can sometimes be the very thing God uses to bring about the growth and protection of a beautiful rose. Please don’t misunderstand me here, I’m not saying God created sin in our lives for our protection. But I am saying that sometimes I think God allows us to have our own way and walk in our own struggles long enough for us to blossom from them. Sometimes God will use our struggles to bring about something so exquisite that we never could have predicted the full extent of its beauty. This is why we can claim “all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

I was out walking with my husband the other day and as he was talking about the topic of pride, the Lord began to drop in my spirit… “that is your thorn.” I had to do a double take for just a quick second, and then I began to realize that all of my issues with self-esteem boils down to this five letter word. PRIDE. God had placed a finger on it. Now, the question remained what was I going to do with it? I believe we all have to deal with some level of pride, and keeping it in a dead state. However, I am learning that, for me personally, it is requiring way more work on my part. God is not going to take away this battle of pride in my life. He has allowed it to stick around as a continual reminder to me to stay focused on him. The extent to which I can lay down my pride (aka: my self-esteem issues) is the extent to which I will blossom. In other words, the thorn is there so my rose can come forth. Without the sweat equity required by the thorn, the blossom will not be protected. If I continue to be lead by my self-conscience nature, I will never see my rose.

So, I find myself brought back around the mountain, yet again, to wage war. But this time, I understand a little better why my battle seems to keep cropping up. When I wrote my post entitled “Time To Wage War” I wrote from the standpoint that this thing was going to flee and never return. In some cases that is exactly the standpoint we must take in order to see change. However, I feel as if the Lord has changed my thinking a bit on this particular area of my life. When the Lord said “that is your thorn.” I believe He was showing me that I will always face this battle. In knowing that piece of information, I can now fight just a little different. I do not believe this information was shown to me so I can throw up my arms and give up. However, I think the Lord chose to share this so my fighting could be adjusted for a marathon rather than a sprint, for a lifetime rather than a moment in time. It has made a difference knowing the duration of time I have been called to fight this battle. It has put my mind to rest just knowing that it’s okay for me to struggle with this issue because it is my protection for the rose God has in my life. Believe me, coming from someone whose sin of self-consciousness has deeply entangled her at times, my mind has been truly calmed by knowing that my continual battle with this will bring about my own protection in the end. The Lord never ceases to amaze me in the intriguing ways he weaves our deepest hurts, struggles and hardships to bring about the highest honor and glory for His name.  In our weakness, He is strong! (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Call to action
What is your thorn? What is the thing in your life that Christ is continually putting His finger on that will bring about your very protection in the end if you willingly and faithfully lay it at His feet? May I be so bold as to encourage you to seek out your thorn. Ask the Lord what it is that you will be expected to battle with for the rest of your life, not as a form of discouragement, but as a source of relief in knowing where your protection is coming from. May we all have the courage to ask the Lord to reveal our thorn.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for thorns. I thank you that our very struggles are the things you use to display your strength. May you reveal to our hearts the specific struggle that we will face for a lifetime so that your honor and glory can come forth like a rose! Thank you that your ways are higher than our ways. We ask all this in Jesus name.