How many times have we often been faced with a "thorn in the flesh," and all we want is to see it gone? It might have been a relationship, a personal sin struggle, or it could have been a career issue. Whatever it was, it was tough to deal with.

The concept of the thorn in the flesh was introduced by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12, and to those who think that his teachings on it are "easier said that done," one must remember that he spoke of his personal experience with a thorn of his own flesh. Paul wasn't just theologically or allegorically speaking of thorns in the flesh, but he was speaking of it at the same moment that he had one of his own.

Christians often describe a thorn in the flesh as a problem or issue that is unsolvable or virtually impossible to overcome by human strength. If everyone remains completely honest, even non-Christians, everyone will admit that we've all had a thorn in our flesh. But what is the purpose of a thorn and how are we to respond to it? Here are three ways we can respond to a thorn in the flesh.

Stop trying to remove it

When something is causing pain, our first response would always be to steer clear of it or to remove the source of pain. That's just how human nature works. However, Paul teaches us that if that thorn is there and you know God put it there for a reason, we should stop trying to take it out with our own strength.

Let it mold your character

In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul says "Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me." One of God's bigger plans for your thorns today is to use it to mould your character. Romans 5:3-4 further tells us that "... we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Allow grace to abound

1 Corinthians 12:9 tells us, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." God's thorns are great opportunities for His grace to abound in our lives. When we are weak, let us stop relying on our own strength, but rather rely on the strength of God and His abounding grace.