“So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh…”
– 2 Corinthians 12:7
The apostle Paul talked about how he could boast about his ministry and knowledge. He was given an understanding of God’s word and His revelations that surpassed the expertise and experience of any other believer. However, Paul recognized that he was also given something that kept his pride in check.
We are not told what this “thorn” was in Paul’s life. We do not know if it was physical, mental, or spiritual. All we know is that it was allowed by God. And notice this for a moment; this “thorn” was not imposed on him; it was given to him as a gift. How would something like this be viewed as a gift? Because it glorified the Lord.
This is so contrary to the way many are taught today. We are told to have pride, be the best, expect only the best of everything, and worry about “number one.” But God often allows “thorns” into our lives to keep us close to Him. After all, if you had everything, would you remember the Lord?
Today, if things are not perfect in your life or you feel like God has not “blessed” you the way you think He should, could it be that He is trying to keep you close to Him? Could He allow things in your life to keep you from something even worse? Maybe we need to look at the “thorns” in our lives as gifts like Paul did.
“I asked the Lord that He should give success to the high task I sought for Him to do; I asked that every hindrance might grow less and that my hours of weakness might be few; I asked that far and lofty heights be scaled and now I humbly thank Him that I failed. For with the pain and sorrow came to me a dower of tenderness in act and thought, and with failure came a sympathy, an insight which success has never brought. Father, I had been foolish and humblest of though hadst granted me my blind request.”
– Unknown
surrendered devotions 