The Mercy of Suffering
2 Corinthians 12:7 says, “And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.” This problem of suffering has been examined and pondered from every angle by philosophers for millennia and there is no quick and easy answer. Today, however, I want to highlight a perspective on suffering that I find to be helpful in dealing with those thorns. On the surface, the idea sounds counterintuitive, but God ways very often are counterintuitive to us. The idea I will present and give my thoughts on is that suffering is mercy.
When I first listened to the idea (and actually paid attention), my reaction was confusion. I did not understand what this meant. It seemed backwards to me. But as I listened to the explanation and really opened my heart to try and understand, I came to realize the truth in the idea. I’ve been praying for years for God to take away a struggle, but He hasn’t. Why? Perhaps because He wants to treat the disease, not the symptoms. Perhaps God wants to heal the wounds from which these bad habits arose. Perhaps God cares so much that He wants what is best for me, even when I don’t understand and fight Him. Suffering is an opportunity to grow. It tells us where we are wounded and that we should take those places to God for healing.
Suffering also keeps us grounded. It can remind us that we are human, that we can’t see everything, that we don’t know everything, and that we need God. The verse I used earlier also speaks to this. “…to keep me from being too elated.” We can become arrogant when we do good. These thorns serve as a reminder to check our egos and keep our weakness in mind. Think of it from a lens of parenting. If your child is acting out in such a way, you might let the consequences of their decisions hit them so that they might learn and grow in goodness.
God is the Good Father, and like any good father, He tries to correct His children when they go astray. Looking at it from this perspective has shifted my view of these thorns. They still suck and aren’t pleasant, but now I am able to tell God thank you for them. Thinking about things from a parent’s perspective helps in other ways as well. Scripture starts to make more sense, Confession becomes a little easier, and prayer moves to a deeper level. This shift in mindset is not an easy one, as it requires us to let go of ourselves and take a look at things from God’s point of view. This isn’t something that we can do on our own. We must ask God for help, and the amazing things is, God won’t say no to any prayer that helps you grow in holiness and move closer to Him.
So, next time you find yourself asking God why He hasn’t taken a particular thorn out your side, try instead to ask Him why it’s there. Talk to God about your wounds and ask Him to reveal to you what is causing the symptoms. The Father wants to heal you. He wants to come close to you, especially in those dark places. “…but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Romans 5:20). God is in those dark places waiting for you to come to Him so that He can heal you.
