Ministry of Thorns

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

God did not take away Paul’s thorn; He did better—He mastered that thorn, and made it Paul’s servant. The ministry of thorns has often been a greater ministry to man than the ministry of thrones.  – Streams in the Desert 12/18

“It shall turn out for you a testimony.” Luke 21:13

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God has given me a ministry of thorns. Graciously taking all the pain of my life (self-inflicted, other-inflicted or just the ache of real life) and given me the great honor of using it all for His glory.

This truth was brought home to me recently, as I stood in front of a podium before several hundred ladies at a correctional facility. I have no great skill as an orator, no degree on the wall or social station that would open such doors. My thorns provided the invitation and thorns were what I spoke of. Oh, I called them by their real names of regret, abuse, addiction, grief, betrayal, depression, divorce and hopelessness. Wrapping it up with God’s promise found in Romans 8:28, that He is able to cause all things to work together for our good and His glory, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I have found that when I share the thorns of my life, in an authentic way, it frees others to share theirs as well. Releasing them from the formality and pretense and self-protective stance that often shrouds our lives. It’s then, when the pain is on the table, that the Great Physician can begin His work.

He may or may not remove the thorns of real life, but He is entirely faithful to use them. That’s what I desperately wanted those precious ladies to know that night. If placed in His hands, He will use our thorns for His glory. He may even grant us, a ministry with those thorns.

We have a choice. The same heat that melts wax, hardens clay. And the same thorn that pushes one to lean hard into God, may cause another to run from Him.

What will you do with your thorn?

Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched by pain tend to be shallow in their perspectives on life. Suffering, on the other hand, tends to plow up the surface of our lives to uncover the depths that provide greater strength of purpose and accomplishment. Only deeply plowed earth can yield bountiful harvests.

– Billy Graham

Father, I am in awe of Your faithfulness and ability to use my mess for Your glory. My thorns for Your kingdom. As we prepare to launch into a new year, I hand You, once again, all of me. Thorns and all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for my Lord Jesus

My God, I have never thanked Thee for my ‘thorn!’ I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my ‘thorn;’ I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my ‘thorn.’

George Matheson