In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul speaks of having a “thorn in the flesh.” He says he pleaded with the Lord three times that it would be removed from him, but it was not removed. Instead of taking away the thorn, God gave him these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
You’ve probably felt like Paul sometimes—that there was something hindering you that you couldn’t get rid of it. It didn’t matter how hard you tried, you just couldn’t shake it loose.
It might not be what you want to hear, but it is actually a message of hope.
Well, there’s something you need to know about living with a thorn in the flesh. It might not be what you want to hear, but it is actually a message of hope. Here it is: There’s nothing that can get at you—even if it comes from the devil himself—that doesn’t first have to pass through God’s fingers. The devil isn’t sovereign. Only God is sovereign. Just as with Job, the devil can’t reach us without permission from God.
Here’s the reality: At times God allows what the devil does to work for His purposes. Though they are at war with one another, God can use the devil’s efforts to bring about what He has in store for you and me. Usually He blocks the devil’s efforts, but sometimes He allows them to get through to us. When that happens, it is part of God’s plan. For the sovereign God can take the evil and use it for good—for your good.
