To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. —2 Corinthians 12:7-9
One principle to note is the connection between the abundance of revelation and a higher degree of suffering or testing. According to Paul, his thorn in the flesh was given to keep him from exalting himself in light of the abundance of revelation that he had received (2 Cor. 12:7). The thorn was given because of revelation. On the other hand, it seems that God gives powerful revelation because of the testings that some are about to encounter. Paul received a prophetic vision instructing him to take his missionary efforts into Macedonia rather than Bithynia. That decision resulted in Paul and Silas being arrested, dragged before the magistrate, severely beaten with rods, thrown into the inner prison, and secured in stocks. Though the thorn can come because of revelation, so also revelation can come to prepare us for future testings. How greatly will the saints who are awaiting the physical and visible return of Jesus Christ be encouraged by the undeniable confirmations of His coming!
{ PRAYER STARTER }
Father, may I recognize the thorns that come into my own life as evidence that You are testing me and preparing me to be ready for Your coming. With the thorn comes powerful revelation of Your plan to come again.
A powerful prophetic revelation with
undeniable confirmations stabilizes
people in a time of severe testing.
