“Why did this happen to me? Why is life always such a struggle? I’m tired of the battles with myself and with everyone else. God, just take the bad things away!”

The apostle Paul could relate. God had allowed Paul to suffer a “thorn in the flesh.” Paul called it a “messenger of Satan.” Understand that when a thorn comes in life, there are always two messages attached to it, one from Satan and one from God. You will either be discouraged or strengthened, depending on which one you listen to. Sometimes, like Paul, we beg God to take it away, but God allows it to remain. 

Maybe your suffering or weakness has lingered. Perhaps it weighs heavily on you. If so, listen to the message God attaches to your thorn: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” It’s why Paul went on to say, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me . . . for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9,10).

Do you see? Your struggle doesn’t mean God has abandoned you or he doesn’t love you. Instead, the struggle leads you to lean on the strength of God instead of your own. It forces you to rely on the love of Jesus, who saved you by his cross. Because they lead us to our real strength, even thorns are good!