2 Corinthians 12:10
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
One of the hardest things that you will deal with in your Christian life is keeping yourself in proper perspective. Paul addressed this issue by showing us why God allows us to suffer a thorn in the flesh. Paul asked God three times to remove his thorn in the flesh, but He told him that His grace is sufficient. When Paul accepted the thorn in the flesh that was given to him, it changed his perspective of hardships and why God sends them our way. There are three reasons God allows you to suffer a thorn in the flesh.
First, God allows you to have a thorn in the flesh so that it will change your perspective of yourself. Without the thorn in the flesh, Paul could have easily gloried in himself. He said in verse 5, “Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.” This thorn kept Paul from becoming filled with pride.
One of the reasons God allows you to suffer with a thorn in the flesh is to help you keep a proper perspective of yourself. God knows, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) God is trying to keep you from destroying yourself. As long as your thorn keeps you realizing that you need God, then your thorn becomes a tool to help you keep a proper perspective of yourself.
Second, God allows you to have a thorn in the flesh so that others will keep you in proper perspective. Those whom Paul taught could have easily lifted him above Christ. Verse 7 says, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” As long as you have a thorn in the flesh it reminds others that you are still flesh. It will help them not to put too much confidence in you and to keep their trust in God.
Third, God allows you to have a thorn in the flesh so that you can experience His grace. Friend, knowing what God’s grace can do in your life will help you to become a better servant for Him. It will allow you to help others who are going through tough times because you will be able to show them how God’s grace can help them through their hardships. Part of experiencing God’s grace is that it will help you to walk closer to Him. It will help to show you how much you really need Him on a daily basis.
Ultimately, the thorn in the flesh is there to ensure that God receives all the glory. How could Paul take “pleasure” in his infirmities? He took pleasure in them because through them God was lifted up and he was used to help others. When your life’s infirmity causes you to change your perspective of you, then it will change your perspective of your infirmity. You can either fight your infirmity, or you can allow it to change your perspective so that others will see you properly which will result in them seeing the power of God. That is ultimately what you should want to happen.