Living in the Garden of Grace: Our Thorns—God’s Grace
Reflections on David Kuykendall’s Living in the Garden of Grace
"… a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." (2 Corinthians 12:7b)
Thorns—those painful, persistent struggles—are often misunderstood. They can leave us questioning God’s purpose and longing for relief. Yet, as Paul discovered, our thorns are not arbitrary or purposeless. They are tools of grace, shaping us into vessels of God’s strength and provision.
Thorns and the Purpose of Grace
Paul’s thorn in the flesh, though mysterious in its specifics, was significant enough to drive him repeatedly to God in prayer:
"Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me." (2 Corinthians 12:8)
God’s response was not the removal of the thorn but an assurance of His sustaining grace:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
This pivotal moment revealed an eternal truth: our thorns lead us to rely on God’s grace rather than our own strength. They remind us that His power is perfected not in our independence but in our dependence.
Why Do We Need Thorns?
David Kuykendall invites us to consider: If we can live by God’s grace through obedience to the commands of Romans 6:11-13, why would we still need thorns?
The answer lies in human frailty. Even the Apostle Paul admitted moments of slipping into self-reliance, describing the struggle in Romans 7:24:
"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"
Paul understood the way out:
"I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25)
Thorns are necessary because they expose our lapses into living by the flesh rather than by grace. They keep us tethered to God’s sufficiency, revealing the futility of self-effort and the richness of His provision.
The Daily Necessity of Thorns
Paul reminds us that the pressures of life—the “thorns”—are not occasional but continual:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (Romans 8:36)
The persistent nature of thorns keeps us in a state of dependence on God. Without them, we might be tempted to revert to living by the flesh, striving in our own strength rather than resting in His.
Responding to Our Thorns
Paul’s ultimate response to his thorn reveals the heart of grace-filled living:
"I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
This response is counterintuitive to the natural mind but transformative to the renewed mind. Paul recognized that his weakness was not a hindrance but a conduit for God’s strength. By rejoicing in his thorns, he embraced the truth that Christ’s power is most evident in his dependence.
Practical Reflection: Finding Joy in Weakness
Identify Your Thorns: What persistent struggles or pressures keep you leaning on God?
Acknowledge Your Weakness: Confess your inability to navigate these thorns in your own strength.
Rejoice in God’s Grace: Thank God for the ways He uses your thorns to deepen your dependence on Him.
Rely on His Strength: Trust that His grace is sufficient for every challenge you face today.
A Closing Prayer
“Father, thank You for the thorns that remind me of my need for Your grace. I confess the times I have strived in my own strength and resisted the very pressures meant to draw me closer to You. Thank You for teaching me to rejoice in my weakness, knowing that it is there Your strength is made perfect. May my dependence on You bring glory to Your name. Amen.”
A Final Thought
Thorns are not obstacles to grace but pathways to its fullness. In our weakness, God’s strength is revealed, allowing His grace to sustain and transform us. Rather than resenting our thorns, let’s embrace them, trusting that they serve His eternal purposes.
As Kuykendall reminds us, “Our ‘thorns’ make us weak in order that we may be strong by trusting God. So we rejoice because of the thorns.”