Grace

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
In this passage, Paul is talking about how he has a thorn in his flesh that torments him, causes him pain. He asks God three times to take it from it, but God does not. "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

A friend was sharing with me her constant struggle with bulimia. She loves the Lord and desires nothing more than to please Him with her life, but this one thing has been a constant struggle. In Jesus' name we are believing that Jesus is healing her body and mind and that she will be completely set her free, but through this the Lord is teaching her so much and allowing this "thorn" which is from the enemy, for good. Not only can she relate to so many girls that struggle with eating disorders, the thorn has created the constant desire for more of Jesus in her life.

It is grace for Him to allow the thorn in my flesh. I think the thorn is different for everyone and even changes from season to season, but none the less as long as we are on this earth and until we have our resurrected bodies, i believe we will always have a thorn to some degree. And I am learning to be grateful for that. So many times I pray away the thorn but I am beginning to see a different side. (He works everything for the good of those love Him..Romans 8:28) The hard situations, struggles, disappointments, etc. are ALL being worked out for my good! I can't see the big picture, He does. He is making my way perfect. (psalm18:32)

Without the thorn it would be so easy to rely on myself or others for things I can only really receive from Jesus. The worlds comforts are fleeting, His are lasting forever. It is kindness, or grace, for Him not t0 take away the thorn. Because of His sympathetic understanding towards us, he knows how easy it would be to not look to the unseen but the seen. The temporary, not the ever-lasting. (for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2cor3:17-18).

The torn reminds me constantly that I can't do it alone. I am weak and I NEED him.
The god of this age has blinded people (2cor4:4) and made them think the thorn is cruel and that if God really loved us then why would he allow pain? He doesn't desire the pain of the thorn, he desires us. He desires my life remain in Him and a love relationship with me that is so alive and real that the thorn is so worth it.

-sandra