Have you ever come across characters that keep getting on your nerves, drive you up the wall & stretch your patience to unimaginable limits? It's like a stubborn itch that no matter how hard you scratch, it just won't go away. I like to refer to such as a Thorn in the flesh - some sort of necessary evil. Paul talked about it in his letter to the church in Corinth and I drew a couple of lesson I'd like to share.
The Thorn Keeps You In Check
As an apostle, Paul did great works in spreading the gospel of Christ and as such was considered one of the most important figures of the apostolic age and also described as one of the greatest missionaries of all time. With this accomplishment it was very easy for him to boast of his works but he makes it clear that he will not. 2 Corinthians 12:5 "but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. He goes on to say that to keep from being conceited, he was given a thorn in his flesh to keep him from exalting himself. 2 Corinthians 12:7 "Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself! "
At the beginning of this post, I posed a question. I'm sure you have thought of at least one character that stretches your patience and gets on your last nerve. Now, shift your focus from how annoying they are and start thinking of them as a thorn, one that has been put there to keep in you check so you don'tgrow a big head. It may be that annoying supervisor/boss who isn't satisfied with your input no matter how much effort you put in, that colleague who dislikes you for no apparent reason & does everything to sabotage you, that friend who is too demanding & you're never good enough for and much more. They are there to torment and harass you, to keep you from exalting yourself or thinking of yourself better than others because of your milestones or accomplishments.
How then do you deal with this thorn? First reaction will of course be to cry out to God for help in removing the thorn just like Paul did. 2 Corinthians 12:8 "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." I love how the Lord responded to Paul. If God wanted, He would have immediately gotten rid of the thorn but the response He gives Paul intrigues me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
God's Grace Is Sufficient
I'm sure the 'sufficient grace' response was the last thing Paul expected from God after pleading with him to get rid of the thorn. Trying to put myself in Paul's situation, I'd bePISSED - "Big Guy, can't you see I'm suffering!!! why not just get rid of this thorn instead of giving me storos about your grace being sufficient." Imagine SOSing someone you know beyond a reasonable doubt can bail you out and he gives you such a response - "you need help? don't worry I'm gonna have your back just to make sure you're good, but this one I ain't touching!!!! During those moments when that thorn hurts the most, remember God's grace. Call out to Him and embrace the grace. He says the grace is sufficient and it will get you through and strengthen you. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 "....for my power is made perfect in weakness." This does not however mean that you will not have the urge to retaliate; we are, after all human. You need to fight the temptation to respond with a nasty comment or pick unnecessary fights.
Change Your Attitude
Quit looking at the thorn as something that you need to get rid of, rather look at it something that is there to stretch you and make you a better person. Use it to your advantage. For that annoying supervisor - deliver to the best of your ability & do it with a smile; to the nasty colleague - sow love & acts of kindness. Nothing beats repaying evil with good. 1 Peter 3:9 "And never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection].
Always remember, the thorn is just doing its duty - to harass & torment you. Change how you react to it. Stock up on grace every single day. Hebrews 4:16 "Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].
The Thorn Keeps You In Check
As an apostle, Paul did great works in spreading the gospel of Christ and as such was considered one of the most important figures of the apostolic age and also described as one of the greatest missionaries of all time. With this accomplishment it was very easy for him to boast of his works but he makes it clear that he will not. 2 Corinthians 12:5 "but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. He goes on to say that to keep from being conceited, he was given a thorn in his flesh to keep him from exalting himself. 2 Corinthians 12:7 "Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself! "
At the beginning of this post, I posed a question. I'm sure you have thought of at least one character that stretches your patience and gets on your last nerve. Now, shift your focus from how annoying they are and start thinking of them as a thorn, one that has been put there to keep in you check so you don't
How then do you deal with this thorn? First reaction will of course be to cry out to God for help in removing the thorn just like Paul did. 2 Corinthians 12:8 "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." I love how the Lord responded to Paul. If God wanted, He would have immediately gotten rid of the thorn but the response He gives Paul intrigues me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
God's Grace Is Sufficient
I'm sure the 'sufficient grace' response was the last thing Paul expected from God after pleading with him to get rid of the thorn. Trying to put myself in Paul's situation, I'd be
Change Your Attitude
Quit looking at the thorn as something that you need to get rid of, rather look at it something that is there to stretch you and make you a better person. Use it to your advantage. For that annoying supervisor - deliver to the best of your ability & do it with a smile; to the nasty colleague - sow love & acts of kindness. Nothing beats repaying evil with good. 1 Peter 3:9 "And never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection].
Always remember, the thorn is just doing its duty - to harass & torment you. Change how you react to it. Stock up on grace every single day. Hebrews 4:16 "Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].