My Daily Thorn

If you’ve never dealt with extreme chronic pain you simply can’t understand. The last few days have reminded me why I used to feel like I was going crazy all the time. It’s so hard being stuck in a body full of pain. Especially when you can’t change it or predict it from one moment to the next.

Late last night my pain jumped back on me big time. Fortunately, I had some extra medication to eventually put out the raging fire within me. All I could do was pray and wait for things to settle down. Finally, at some point the storm ceased again and I fell asleep. My wonderful wife has seen me this way countless nights before.

Thank God I slept well throughout the night. However, my body woke me up bright and early this morning. I absolutely hate going to bed this way or waking up this way. My nerve pain really does change everything when it’s out of control. Sadly, I can’t just run away from my own body.

Now, even when you’re a veteran of this kind of pain. It’s never easy or enjoyable to be in this battle. I can see why folks who are in such suffering over time just feel they can’t take anymore. Honestly, there is not an aspect of your life that doesn’t become more difficult.

Fortunately, I’ve learned that God is always faithful. God is always using my struggles for his own good reasons. God’s grace always proves to be enough even in the roughest of days. Nothing about my situation takes God by surprise. He knows my weakness and He has a plan. We all have something that keeps us humble and lets us realize our need to rely on God. This just happens to be the thorn in my flesh.

“even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)