Do you have a thorn in your flesh?


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Everybody has a thorn in the flesh. One that you desperately want to remove. Ironically, you have asked God to take it away several times, but nothing happens. It seems God did not hear you. So, you begin to wonder whether He is listening to you at all. Before long doubt and fear set in and you find yourself going backward instead of forward.

Let me be clear, a persistent thorn in the flesh is not a sign that your heavenly father does not care about your well-being, neither does it mean that He did not hear your request. However, It could mean that He has already acted upon your request, but you have refused to accept His proposal. It could also mean that the thorn is the execution stake you need to pick up daily to follow Jesus.

The Apostle Paul struggled with a thorn in his flesh too. He had petitioned God to remove the thorn three times, but every time he did, the answer was always the same, “My grace is enough for you”, (Read 2 Corinthians 12:9). Of course, like all of us who suffered from thorns in our flesh, the beloved Apostle, was not happy with the answer God gave him, but after three, tries he realized he was fighting a losing battle.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, as I reflect on the thorn in my flesh, I am reminded with absolute assurance that the closer I get to God is the less concerned I am about a thorn in my flesh. Further, the thorn in my flesh may be one thing that keep me grounded, resolute and steadfast in pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ.

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22 comments

  1. May our Lord remove your “thorn” in His time. (I started to say “quickly” but I thought, “What if that is not God’s will?” I will pray for it anyways. I do not like “thorns” much Noel. I do not think any of us do, and you are so correct in saying that it “feels as if God is not hearing us.” I have never had a thorn though, that did not make me “antcipate God’s grace” even more. I keep remembering what He told Paul. It is just hard to see the grace, when something is poking us in the side, but I know it is there. Eventually He removes it and that old sore it made, goes away. It is always in God’s time though. Great post and God Bless, SR

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      1. In my prayers. Offered Mass prayers for you last night and said a decade of the Rosary for you also. So know that God is calling those to pray for you! God Bless, SR

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    2. Thanks S.R! I truly appreciate your comment. To God be the glory. It is heartening to know that one day soon good will triumph over evil. Those of us who make it into the New Jerusalem will not experience pain. There will be no complaints of thorns in the flesh.

      In the hymn “Oh I Want To See Him”, R.H. Cornelius writes the following; “Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face, There to sing forever of His saving grace; On the streets of glory let me lift my voice, Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.

      God blesses.

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  2. Paul never ceases to amaze me. I never knew he coined that phrase (a thorn in my flesh) and it referred to the devil agitating him. Seems you got me on this one Noel……good job. (smiling).

    Excellent post. thanks for sharing and the lesson.

    May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless and keep you and yours always.

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      1. I enjoyed stopping by and learning a few things.

        Noel, you are 100% right about that. Paul has contributed so very much to our Christian way. He alone is the emphasis of what Christ had taught: “Love,” “Long Suffering,” “Patience,” “Faith” and, of course, “Endurance.”

        I do not see anyway of discrediting a man like Paul, Noel. I do not fully care what some Bible Scholars may say concerning Paul. When they, themselves, are able to show the same “long suffering and endurance” that Paul did – discredit him then. Then I’ll listen.

        Noel, as always it was a pleasure. My friend, may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob continually bless you and yours. Shalom, my friend.

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  3. I have a couple very painful thorns. They are not being removed, but always, always bring with them the knowledge that His grace is lavished on me through these thorns, and His grace is always enough.

    Thanks for the reminder.
    Lyn

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment, Lyn. Indeed! God’s grace is sufficient for us. I can say that without reservation. However, it took me a long time to embrace those words. My heavenly Father had to direct my attention to the millions of people who cannot do anything without help. That was when I realized that a thorn in my flesh is only a minor setback. It cannot touch my soul, and I refuse to allow it to steel my Joy.

      God blesses.

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      1. for me it’s a process…I get it, I walk triumphantly in it, then somewhere along the way, my feeble brain and wearied heart forget what I thought I knew…and He teaches it again, and I get it, and walk in it, etc. I think it’s perspective, once I set my eyes and my heart on Him, the waves don’t seem so big.

        Good stuff Noel!
        Lyn

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    1. Indeed! Afi, He is my keeper and my everything. One song writer the following powerful words: “Where do I go?
      When there’s nobody else to turn to
      Who do I talk to?
      When nobody wants to listen
      Who do I lean on? Oh
      When there is no foundation stable
      I go to the rock
      I know he is able, I go to the rock

      Thanks so much for stopping Afi. God blesses.

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  5. God bless you, Noel. This post is timely, since I have been confronted by the thorn in my side from since I can remember. I’m praying for total deliverance and if anyone is reading this post, please pray for me. I received some encouragement from a sister at church on Sunday and since then I’ve been meeting Satan’s scheming with the following praise:
    “Jesus, Your name is Power! Breath and Living Water! Such a wonderful mystery!
    Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.
    With all creation I sing, Praise to the King of Kings! You are my everything, and I will adore You!”

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    1. Hello Tatum! Thanks so much for your encouraging words. To God be the glory. The devil is a liar. I will not allow him to steal my joy because my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
      I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

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  6. Hi Noel. I am still having trouble clicking on the like button in quite a few sites, yours included; but I wanted you to know that I had stopped by. Thank you for posting all the updates and the news on the gulf fishing.

    I am well acquainted with thorns in the flesh as far as chronic years-long pain from various injuries that never healed properly. I came to the point long ago of asking for healing, and if not healing, then for the strength and fortitude to live with it. That Strength has gotten me through all of these years, praise God!

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  8. Pingback: How Do We Triumph When We Have A Thorn In the Flesh | Food For Thought...FromGod's Word...

  9. Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.

    Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?

    I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thanks

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