Looking to Jesus in the Tough Times

Do you ever get frustrated? Perhaps you do all the "right" things to find that they don't launch they the way that you hoped.

I have spent time in 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 over the past week. In this passage Paul is writing to a well loved, yet frustrating, congregation. These were people that he prayed for often and felt deep frustration for as they were tripped up by life events and spiritual terrorists who sought to steal their joy. Have you ever been there?

Perhaps you approach this blog as a parent who has continually lifted a child before the Lord in prayer. This son or daughter, your offspring, is of dear value to you, you have gone out of the way to love and care for them, and you have given of yourself, even went it hurt.

Or perhaps you are a pastor, or mentor, to an individual God has placed you with. Without a doubt you know that God has placed this person in your care to love, encourage, and lead but they continue to struggle. This was the Church at Corinth.

As the Apostle Paul comes to a close to this second letter he shares an experience, a significant struggle, and how he found strength.

The Experience

Paul wrote about a vivid spiritual experience in verses 2 to 4. As he wriote he uses the third person. There are some who believe that this indicates that Paul is writing about something that happened to another person. This appraoch is comfortable to literalists. This group states that if this was Paul's experience he would be more vivid and said so. However, to hold this position the interpreter needs to redact verse 7 were Paul switched to the first person. Allow me to suggest to you that as Paul wrote about the experience of some one he knew he was referring to himself. His motivation for doing so is supported by the locale, the sitz in leben, of the passage.

If the reader considers the previous part of this letter (chapters 10 and 11) she/he will find that Paul is defending his call and ministry to the Corinthian Church. In the time before this writing an opposing group of ministers had come in an attempt to steal the Corinthians from their first love. Some may take exception to my use of the word "ministers" but that is how they portrayed themselves. (In using this word I do not do so with a specific group or persons in mind.) This group of false leaders attacked Paul's teachings through an attack on him. Having been forced into this position the Apostle reviewed a number of struggles, abuses, and persecutions that he experienced for the cause of Christ (11:21-33). Their attacks and bantering with the charge of "weakling" was something that Paul clearly acknowledged.

For this reason the Apostle writes about his experience/vision (12: 2-4) in the third person. Paul's opposition would have spoken proudly about this experience. In the culture of today an individual who desired to speak of such an experience could be famous and wealthy overnight. TV journalists would spread the story of their experience widely and, surely, at least one book could be published. But, Paul shares this experience for a different reason. Not as something to earn him praise, respect, and wealth but as a back drop to what he wrote next.

A Thorn

"To keep me from becoming conceited . . . given a thorn" (verse 7).

Have you ever had a thorn in your flesh? I am not referring to a bur or something as small as the thorn found on the stem of a rose. The Greek community knew that a thorn of this type was as large as a tent stake. It had a sharp pointed end which could pierce a boot. Some thorns are but a momentary nuisance. Here, Paul refers to a significant struggle.

So what was this "thorn"? It is clear that Paul is not referring to a literal thorn - that would be too easy. Many have suggested that they know what it was, but how could they know. I believe that Paul did us a favor by not being specific.

Let me invite you to a short exercise. What do you think this thorn represents? Take a moment and ask yourself, "It this was me, and not Paul, what would the 'thorn' be?" I know that this exercise can be risky. But, you can choose who you will tell or you can keep it a secret.

Have you got it? Not a trivial difficulty, but a struggle that you have not been able to resolve. Be gutsy for a moment. For some this "thorn" will be a significant sorrow or struggle. Some will have rearranged their life to make room for their "thorn". Once you have your "thorn" identified, place it on the countertop of your mind. It may be tempting to quickly put it away, but I believe God has a purpose for you in this exercise.

Responding to the Thorn

Paul prayed when he discovered his thorn. To the Apostle prayer was as natural as breathing. He looked at his thorn wrapped it in prayer and placed in Jesus' hand. But it did not go away!

There are times that a prayer will resolve such a difficulty. And there are times that the thorn continues. Paul kept praying. There were many things in Paul's life that he prayed for. He lifted concerns for himself, for the people God had given him, for the plans he was considering, and for wisdom for what to do. He prayed in the morning. He prayed at night. He prayed continually.

I imagine that the continual presence of the thorn in his life caught his attention. Paul persisted in prayer. Regularly he asked God to remove this struggle, this difficulty, from his life. It can be frustrating when your prayer does not receive the answer you desire. At times like this the enemy, satan, may whisper in your mind that you are not worthy or good enough to get God's attention. BUT, remember satan is a liar. God listens to all the prayers of believers. He answers eveyone!

In verse 8 he writes "Three times I pleaded". These words are a Greek idiom for praying fully. Paul prayed at all time and in all situations about this concern. Everytime he went to prayer he lifted this concern. And then, the Lord Jesus spoke to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." God the Son was there in Paul's life and through Paul's prayers. Jesus wanted to work through him and the "problem" which Paul as a nuisance was a gift of grace!

Someone may be thinking now, "What do you mean?. Surely this thorn, this nuisance, this overwhelming difficulty is not a gift of God's grace!" But, my friend it may be just that.

There are times, people, events, and places in our lives that we would never choose but have been given to us by God out of the love. In these times we need to cling tighter and look to God as our provider because by ourselves we may not be able. God will be with you in the middle of your struggle. He will give you guidance and wisdom, and will do His part on His own. He will bring about His will and His plans through them. One of those plans is You.

What Now
Look at that "thorn" lying on the countertop of your mind. Is it still there? That difficulty, frustration, and struggle may just be a Blessing from the One who Redeemed you. It may be difficult to handle and it may rearrange your life. And, this is the hard part, it may be God's perfect gift for you!

May God fill you with wonder as you admit your struggle, receive His gifts (easy or hard) and experience His power in the midst of your weakness. Amen.

Blessings

Pastor Al