DAY 6 – An unusual gift
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.”
2 Corthinains 12:7-8
Second only to Jesus, Paul is arguably the most famous person in the New Testament. He wrote more of it than anyone else, and if there were a Nobel Prize for Christianity, Paul would be the clear recipient.
And yet… in his second letter to the church in Corinth, he tells them about a burden, “a thorn in the flesh“ that was given to him.
The word given implies that it was a gift. An unusual gift to be sure. And apparently, a gift He isn’t crazy about getting since He prays repeatedly for it to be removed.
And here’s the uncomfortable part: this burden was not removed.
Which begs the question, “Why?“
Inward: Father, what do you want me to know?
Why does Paul not tell us specifically what it is?
Maybe because he doesn’t want it to be the focus, but rather God?
Maybe we could insert our burden and learn?
Why might God not have removed it?
Could it be that God has a greater purpose?
Clearly, God cares about our burdens (Psalm 34:18), but he cares more about our souls.
He wants us more than he wants our comfort.
Sometimes he loves us enough to lift our burden.
Sometimes he loves us so much that he doesn’t.
Why does Paul stop asking for it to be removed?
Is it because he finally recognized it as a gift that is pushing him toward Jesus, and he wants that more than his comfort?
Is there a burden you are praying and hoping for God to remove that he hasn’t yet?
Outward: Father, what do you want me to do?
Ask God, “Is there a burden on me that might actually be a gift? Write a short prayer that expresses your heart and hope.
