{Please Read 2 Cor 12:7-10}
In your circumstances, the LORD has the power to answer. Sometimes He answers by removing the “thorn.” We often pray to this end, but when He does not then we often find an “offense” in Him. Why?
  • The Deficiency is not in the LORD.
  • The Deficiency is not in His Grace.
  • The Deficiency at times is in our view of Him.
  • The Deficiency is our attitude, very often it is, “my will be done,” rather than a heart in submission, “Your will be done!” And when we do not get the answer we want- He becomes a stumbling block to us!
We falsely believe God is OBLIGATED to answer our prayer the way we Want! We DEMAND He exists to serve us and “prosper” and “pamper” us and when He does not we find an “offense” with Him! We wrongly believe He exists for us, rather than we exist for Him and His purposes. We are to pray from a heart of submission, by all means asking Him to remove the “thorn” but if not, knowing He has a purpose and HE is sufficient for us in it. If you find you cannot pray from such a heart, ask Him to help you come to that place. His grace extends to every area of our lives! Sometimes the “thorn” can reveal the false concepts we have of Him, that we ultimately believe, that He exists to serve us and that mirrors a heart of a lost person. But, even a believer can have his or her heart exposed to wrong concepts when “bad, difficult” things happen to us. But just as Jesus restored Peter so we too can be restored to see things from God’s perspective that we were created for His glory,{ Read Luke 22:31-32; Isaiah 43:7} and are to “…do all for the glory of God.” {1 Cor 10:31}.  This can include suffering for the glory of God!-{Read 1 Peter 1:19-20; 4:16-19}.
God could have removed or even kept Paul from having such an excruciating “thorn.” But in His Wisdom, He knew what was best for Paul, to keep him from exalting himself due to the great revelations he had, it was a “preventative,” not a “punishment!” And also to show Himself strong through the weakness of a man who trusted God and was dependent upon Him. {Read 2 Cor 12:7-11}.

Weakness is not a disqualification from being greatly used by God in the circumstances you find yourself in! Weakness can be the greatest strength you have, when placed in His care, for His purposes and glory!

WE EXIST FOR HIM- Pray and ask God to remove the “thorn,” but know if He chooses not to remove it, He has a Divine purpose to further His fame through you. A personal purpose for you to know Him more intimately, and reach out compassionately,. A universal purpose, to benefit others in your sphere of influence and contact. Submit to Him, see your weakness to deepen your faith to know Him, and His power is unleashed through weakness.

CHOOSE NOT TO FIND FAULT WITH GOD.

 CHOOSE TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD!”

{From the message, “Paul’s Thorn, Finding Fault With God” }