I’ll Praise You for this Thorn by Rocky Fleming

Concerning this (the thorn) I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 

A few years ago, Casting Crowns sang an amazing song called Praise You In This Storm.  I had just gone through my umpteenth surgery which had become infected.  Sallie and I were in my hospital room.  I was greatly discouraged, which frightened her for that is not like me.  I said, “I can’t take this any longer,” saying in essence, “I give up.”  It was at that moment I heard this song for the first time, and I realized that I was being told to praise Him for the surgeries and infections, for He is not out of control, nor is He disinterested.  I would have twenty-two surgeries, and after all those surgeries and the trauma that the muscles and nerves experienced, I’ve been greatly weakened and imbalanced.  But God would be both there for us and for us during them all, and now in my current weakness.   

Lately I’ve connected the dots with why God would allow a man committed to Him and for His purposes with his life to allow these debilitating issues.  This is where the thorn comes into light.  But the lyrics for Casting Crowns wonderful song also included this stanza. 

And I'll praise You in this storm 
And I will lift my hands 
For You are who You are 
No matter where I am 
And every tear I've cried 
You hold in Your hand 
You never left my side 
And though my heart is torn 
I will praise You in this storm 

If I didn’t know better, I’d think Casting Crowns song would be inspired by Paul’s thoughts on the Thorn in his flesh.  Doesn’t it seem to correlate?  Some people would say that Paul’s thorn was to weaken him. He would think that initially.  But he would come to see that God intended to strengthen him in ways that he didn’t consider.  It was to strengthen his dependence on God rather than himself, and God’s strength greatly surpassed anything that he could do for God, or even himself.   

Through the years I found this to be consistently true with God and those He uses.  There is a hidden equipping and strengthening that occurs for the one He greatly uses.  Some people say that God uses a strong man to do the heavy lifting of leadership and service.  I say that He strengthens the weak man and breaks the strong man to bring both into submission so they can discover His power to do great things for Him, such as leading.  This goes against our common sense and especially anything this world would teach us about strength and success.  Don’t be surprised by this, for most things of God go against the rot and routines of this world.  In fact, God’s ways are most often hidden from the world’s point of view and that is why He challenges us to depend on Him increasingly as we live out our life. 

I entitled this blog, I’ll Praise You for This Thorn, as a reflection of both the song of Casting Crowns and the scripture from Paul, for they are in essence saying the same thing.  My challenge to you is no matter what storm or thorn you are experiencing at this time, start praising God for it.  Lift up your holy trust to Him who is able and who loves you beyond anything you can realize, and He will make good of it.  Praise Him with your trust and because of His goodness.  Trust Him to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can even ask.  Through this storm or thorn, God is bringing you closer to Him to experience more of Him and that the strength He will provide you will be delivered and received.  It will surely come.  Keep praising Him and it will come.