The Gift of Suffering

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

2 Corinthians 12:7

Paul was an apostle. He was planting churches and sharing the gospel. Why would God let this happen to him? Why allow this thorn in the flesh to come into his life?

Paul tells us exactly why. He says, “in order to keep me from becoming conceited.” This thorn was given to Paul to keep him from becoming conceited about the great vision of heaven that God had given him.

God saw that there was a danger of Paul becoming conceited. And even though we don’t think a lot about pride bring very dangerous, it is. It’s a deadly sin. In fact, God knew that pride posed a greater risk to Paul than suffering. So, "God lovingly, gently and sovereignly afflicted His apostle to protect him."*

The Enemy has destroyed many Christians by success and wealth and power and pride that he never could have destroyed by failure or pain or suffering. So, beware too much success. Beware pride. Great Christians, great pastors have been ruined by them.

We have a terrible tendency to think that any hardship, any suffering that God allows into our lives must mean that He has abandoned us. But the truth is that sometimes God sends suffering into our lives as a gift. Certainly, it’s a gift that no one wants to receive. But it is still one which God gives in love. Sometimes suffering is sent into your life to protect you… to protect you from a fate far worse. Sometimes hardship, suffering, and difficulty signs that God loves you and is working to protect you.

*Yarbrough, Robert W., Andrew David Naselli, Dane Ortlund, and Frank Thielman. Romans–Galatians. Edited by Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar. Vol. X. ESV Expository Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020.