I will never have an experience like the Apostle Paul had, nor will you. Yes, one day, we will be caught up to Heaven but in a different way and for a different reason. Paul had a unique experience he referenced in 2 Corinthians 12:1-6.

Paul heard things up there about which he could not even speak or share with others down here. It seems false teachers were trying to lure the Christians with their claims of ecstatic experiences and visions. Paul met their dubious claims head-on by telling the Christians of one occasion when he uniquely soared higher spiritually – so to speak, than all others.

Paul could have been an instant global celebrity back then had he shared that incredible experience at every stop he made. He could have abandoned everything else and promoted himself as the only one to have been elevated to such heights. He could have allowed his cranial circumference to expand exponentially as the world record holder of such an honour. After all, his flesh and ours would love such attention! But something prevented the Apostle Paul from soaring high in his thoughts about himself and what he was doing for the Lord.

When we soar to new heights spiritually, there’s always a danger of falling into the snare of pride.

“Wow! I’m making excellent spiritual progress. I’m doing much better than my friends. I know my Bible better than most young people. I’m studying Greek and I’m saturating myself with the best of teaching available. Most of my peers seem to be slack and undisciplined spiritually. I doubt if they ever share Christ with a fellow student or co-worker. But me? Yeah, I’m doing great!”

For such a thought to flash into my mind is downright terrifying! It’s called pride, and on the heels of pride is a fall. Proverbs 16:18 says: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Paul could have set up shop as the guru of extra-terrestrial experiences. People could have made pilgrimages to sit at the feet of someone who actually experienced Heaven. His flesh would have loved that. But here’s what happened:

 … to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter or a stake) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.” 2Corinthians 12:7 Amplified

Your guess is as good as mine as to what that thorn really was. The speculation ranges from migraines to seizures; eye problems to a speech impediment; earaches to malaria; personality traits to secret inner moral conflicts and hounding temptations of the flesh, or maybe bouts of depression or even persistent flashbacks of his brutal treatment of Christians in his unsaved days and crippling guilt.

Historically, Catholics have looked at the thorn as some inner emotional or spiritual struggle. Protestants have thought the thorn was a physical problem and persistent pain. The reality is – we’re left in the dark as to ‘what’ the thorn was – perhaps because God wanted you to fit in your experience so you could find comfort and strength.

We know that Paul initially viewed the ‘thorn’ as a hindrance and a pain. We know he cried to the Lord three specific times to remove the thorn, but it wasn’t something God ever intended to remove from him during his lifetime. It plagued Paul persistently and would therefore be a constant reminder of his own weakness and limitation. How could he ever harbour exalted thoughts of himself with this thorn relentlessly piercing him!

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2Corinthians 12:8-9

When Paul understood that God had a purpose for it and would supply the grace and strength to meet every need, he was able to thank God for the thorn. Better than having the thorn removed, the Lord assured him of His presence, strength and enabling grace.

Dear child of God, perhaps you can relate to the persistent and relentless thorn issue. Maybe, with tears or even desperation, you have pleaded with the Lord multiple times to remove something in your life so you could serve Christ better. Let the Word of God assure you again today:

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2Corinthians 12:9

Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience in the public comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out confidentially, click below.