Have you ever had the same bad thing happen over and over in your life? A habit you can’t break, a person you cannot get rid of, a problem that keeps coming back, year-after-year, day-after-day??
I have had a “Mountain” in my life I just cannot seem to get over… one of those obstacles that I can avoid for a season, and even forget it about it, but… it keeps showing up in the middle of my journey, year-after-year! I have prayed, fasted, asked God to give me wisdom and understanding, (Which by the way, He says He will give freely), I have fought, screamed, cried – and, still, this *#$@ “Mountain” keeps showing up!!
I was recently studying about Paul’s “Mountain” that “Thorn in the flesh” he kept running into, and even asked God to get rid of three times, but, it wouldn’t go away. Now the bible says it was from Satan, not from God. 2Cor 12:7-10 – “a messenger of Satan was sent to ‘Buffet’ Paul”.
Over the years I have heard a lot of speculation on what this “Thorn” was; his eye sight, Paul’s pride, club feet, malaria, hunched back, even that Paul struggled with homosexuality… but, if you break down the words in their true meaning, and what Paul was really saying, you find something different.
I would be very glad to give you the Greek break down of 2Cor 12:7, (let me know if you want it), the bottom line is that Paul’s “Thorn in the flesh” wasn’t sickness or epilepsy; it was the people that opposed and irritated him and continually caused him problems! The “Thorn” was a distraction and a constant beating of Paul’s flesh! “People Problems” so he would get distracted and not be able to advance the kingdom, and beatings every where he went! He was hung in jail cells, ship wrecked multiple times, bit by a snake, had his feet broken, back beat – the devil had the “People” so stirred up against Paul, to try and keep him from reaching a higher level of visibility and recognition and to sidetrack him from preaching his revelations… He pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away, But, what did God say to Paul? “My grace is sufficient for you” in other words, I am enough!
Could it be that “Mountain” in your life is there to remind you that He is enough? Vs 10; “That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties; For when I am weak, then I am strong”. Is His grace enough?
