⁶ If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, ⁷ 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.

⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ 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 12:6-10

Dear God, I’ve always read this passage and considered the thorn to be a secret vice Paul had. Or a specific weakness. I’ve heard some say he had a speech impediment. It’s hard to imagine, but maybe. I’ve sometimes myself wondered if, as a single man, he struggled with lust of some sort. I wish he hadn’t been so vague because, frankly, this is the most vulnerable I think we ever see Paul get. There aren’t many times when he suggests he’s less than awesome. But here it is. Proof that there is something that keeps him humble.

As for me, yes, I have vices and addictions against which I struggle. And they keep me humble, to be sure. But this morning, I’m thinking about my source of constant sorrow. And I’ll be a little vague here because I know that others are able to read this as I make these prayers to you available on the Internet. But this constant source of sorrow involves people in my life whom I desperately love. First, I am concerned they are hurt and damaged in some way. Second, my relationships with them are broken, and I desperately want them mended–for their sake, for their sake, and for the sakes of everyone else involved.

I have told my wife in the past that you have certainly used this sorrow to help form me. Without it, in just about every other area my life is unreasonably good. From job, to friendships, to marriage, to my relationship with you bringing me legitimate joy and peace, I live a very fulfilled life. In fact, if it weren’t for this thorn in my side, this area of sorrow, I don’t know who I would be. Would I be arrogant (more arrogant?)? Would I be on my knees in prayer as much to you? I don’t believe you have caused this pain or wanted this pain, but I can see how you’ve used it to form me into someone who is more compassionate and dependent upon you than I would be otherwise.

Father, like Paul, I will continue to pray that you will remove this thorn. But not in my time. In yours. I don’t want to do anything outside of your will. But, well, I love these people. I love them very, very much. There is almost never an hour that goes by that they don’t cross my mind. So please move in all of our lives. But I also recognize that you might be doing something here that I cannot see, and I might not live to see it. So I will press on. I will come to you. I will pray. I will try to become a man who exudes the fruits of your Spirit so that your kingdom might come into this world and your will might be done on earth as it is in the heavens.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen