7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
No one really knows what the thorn in Paul’s flesh was. It doesn’t really matter what it was. What we do know is that, it was a messenger from Satan, sent to torment him and keep him from becoming conceited. God refused to remove the the thorn in Paul’s flesh. I have wondered if Paul had an arrogant personality and God used this thorn to remind him of who was in control.
Poverty has been the thorn in my side for 22 years now. I have prayed for God to pour out financial blessings on me and my children, but He does not. That isn’t to say that He doesn’t provide. He absolutely does provide! Vehicles break down, but I get to work and the kids get to where they need to be. We have a roof over our heads and food on the table. It is hard to struggle paycheck to paycheck, but I know that my survival completely depends on God. I understand that God wants me to experience true Holy Spirit given joy in my life regardless of how much money I have in my bank account. God wants me to look to Him for fulfillment and not material possessions. God wants me to trust Him to provide for my needs instead of trying to provide for myself without Him. Only in depending on Jehovah Jireh alone does my relationship with Him grow in intimacy. Only in trusting God alone is my relationship with Him taken to the next level. It is not always easy and there are times when I want to scream at the unfairness of it all. Why should millions of people have to suffer in poverty when there are many many people who hoard their wealth, refusing to share with those in need. I will admit that even after 22 years I am still learning to be content with my circumstances. I am a work in progress!
What is the thorn in your flesh? Have you cried out to God to remove it? What is the lesson that God might be wanting to teach you by not removing it? Will you allow God to work in your heart and draw you closer to Him?
In a journal or other safe place I urge you to have a conversation with God and open your heart to what God is trying to show you. Let it all out. Don’t be afraid to open up your heart to God. He can handle it. God has not placed this thorn in your flesh to punish you, but to mold you and to draw you closer to Him. Stop fighting it and find out what it is God wants you to know.
Patti Burris 
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