By definition, a thorn is a sharp rigid process on a plant, especially a short, indurated, sharp-pointed, and leafless modified stem. A thorn can also be considered as something that causes distress, or irritation often used in the phrase thorn on one’s side. When we have a thorn in our lives we often see that indurated thing or circumstance as an obstacle, an unsurmountable problem, or a rigid wall leaving us with the idea or the feeling that we are the only one stuck with it or the idea that we must have done something wrong to deserve it, as a result, we are left with a thorn in our flesh when the truth of the matter is everyone has either dealt with or is now dealing with a situation(s) in life that simply refuse to budge no matter what we do.
A thorn is very painful, distressful, tormenting, and can even be depressing, it can give you a feeling of being all alone in this world, unloved and defeated. There is nothing more depressing than when you are in a tormenting situation and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it but just endure it because you can’t seem to find the solution. Dealing with a thorn in an area of your life can make you look at your whole life and see it as a complete failure. It is difficult to live with a thorn, to smile with it, to go to bed with it, and to wake up in the morning just to deal with it again. It can be very disruptive and draining. It can easily rob your peace if it is not anchored in Christ.
And as disturbing and painful as a thorn can be, it is one of the things that God can allow in our lives to best reveal Himself to us. A thorn humbles us by helping us realize the need for help and not just any kind of help but the kind of help that only a Savior can fulfill and as a result of this, we feel the need to seek God’s face about the issue or the situation that seems impossible. The Bible says in James 4:6 that “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” So, when someone humbles himself and seeks God, exaltation will come knocking at his door. A thorn can also change our perspective on life. It causes our priorities to change, what the world sees as a priority will not be a priority to us because thorns make us realize what truly matters in life.
Also, a thorn will put us in the best position to experience the grace and favor of God without Him necessarily removing the thorn. The Bible says in Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” There is a lot more that God can do with a broken heart than a prideful heart. There is no room for God in a prideful heart, but a broken heart helps one to become more humble, sensitive, receptive, and relatable to others’ suffering. So, God can allow thorns in our lives and give us the grace to endure them to better understand what it means, how it feels, and how to better support those dealing with thorns.
It is God who decides how long thorns will last in our lives. Sometimes, He doesn’t remove them at all, and one of the examples that we have in the Bible is Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 when God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” And even Jesus had to wear a crown of thorns. He even tried to pray away that dreadful day, but God did not prevent Him from experiencing it. So regardless of God’s decision concerning our thorns, we can be certain that we will never go through them alone. It may not always feel like it, but someone who deals with thorns is privileged to experience God’s favor and His presence in an unexplainable way.
SCRIPTURES
“And you son of man, do not be afraid of them not be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. ‘You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.’” Ezechiel 2: 6-7
“And He said unto 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.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
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