Daily devotion – an unusual gift from God
2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
God knows how to keep balance in our lives. If we have only blessings, we tend to become proud; so God allows us to have storms or ‘thorns’ as well.
God permitted Satan to buffet Paul in order to keep Paul from becoming proud. After all Paul had experienced a view of Heaven and this could have ruined his ministry on earth.
Human suffering is a great mystery to all of us. Not until we are in glory will we see Heaven’s side for what we went through. Sometimes we suffer simply because we are human. We get older, less agile, slower, and we are susceptible to the normal problems of life.
The same body that can bring us pleasure can also bring us pain!
Sometimes we suffer simply because we have acted stupidly or been disobedient to God.
We are not told what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. The word ‘thorn’ translates to “a sharp stake used for torturing or impaling someone.”
When God permits suffering to come into our lives, there are several ways we can deal with it:
1. We can become bitter and blame God – which will achieve or change nothing.
2. Some people just give up and fail to get any blessing out of the experience because they will not put any courage into the experience.
3. Others just grit their teeth and put on a brave front – this just drains your strength for daily living.
But remember Paul did not just give Paul a thorn, He also gave him a message of grace!
It was a message of strengthening grace – God permits us to become weak so that we might receive His strength.
2Co 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
As Paul prayed about his problem, God gave him a deeper insight into what He was doing in Paul’s life!
In the end Paul learnt that his thorn in the flesh was a gift from God!
As you lean into 2023….be in tune with what God is allowing in your life.
He only has good things for you!