A THORN HAS ITS BEAUTY

I was accustomed to pulling out the thistles that I found growing with my plants and flowers. I never planted the thistles, so they were unwanted. I used to wonder how they would always find a way into my tilled soil. They appeared around my plants, and I found them annoying since they were difficult to pull out without sustaining an injury. Sometimes, these thistles became more conspicuous and fresher than the planted flowers and plants.

One day, I was going for a walk and then got attracted to some beautiful purple flowers. I moved closer to admire the flowers and took a close picture of the flower. It was then that I noticed that the mother plants were thistles. I had never allowed the thistles in my little garden to reach their flowering stage before I pulled them out. They just must go.

Sometimes in life, we find some unwanted situations around us. They are like thorns in our flesh. We pray, fast, seek counsel to no avail. Paul the Apostle had his share of this type of thorn. He referred to it as a messenger of Satan. God could have taken care of whatever it was, but He chose not to. God said to Paul let the thorn alone. He however assured Paul that His grace would be sufficient for him.

Even our Lord and Savior had to wear the crown of thorns before the soul of men could be set free from sins, self, and Satan. Christ agonized in prayer, yet He had to carry that cross of shame and humiliation. An angel came instead to strengthen Him, for He had to go through the forest of thorns. At the peak of the suffering, Christ cried out to God “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27: 46, but still He suffered the pain, died, and rose to fulfill the mission of redemption.

Nobody on the surface of the earth can boast about a life free of pain and thorns. But something glaring on the part of God’s children is the presence of God, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and the grace to endure such periods. All these are made available in Christ.

Some thorns are planted to make us better. Some thorns find their ways into our paths to bring us glorious beauty and promotion at the end of their life circle. Different thorns surface for different purposes. But one certain thing is that God will never forsake His own. The promises of God are sure and certain:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”

Isaiah 43:2

So never lose your faith while weathering the storm of thorns. That period will eventually pass, and you will be free and lifted. You need to stay alive to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. Trust in God. He is a wise God.