The Thorns

My biggest struggle throughout my life has been anxiety. It is something I would love to say is gone forever, but it always rears its ugly head again and again.  I think often about what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 

[7] Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! [8] Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. [9] And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. [10] Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I am unsure of what this thorn was, but I believe he was afflicted physically, just as Jacob when wrestling with God in Gen 32:25. I have struggled with anxieties as maybe even David did, as I read several of His poems to that affect.  I used to feel guilty, like I have no faith to persevere.  God showed me something different, of which I wrote a poem about in the late 90s.  I have looked high and low for this poem and for some reason I cannot find it and when seeking God about it the answer I got was "begin again".  I don't know why but God wanted me to write a new one. Maybe there was something in my heart after years of struggling with these feelings that I've gained that I didn't have back in the 90s. So, below is a new rendition to that poem. 

 

The Thorns

God planted a seed in my heart a long time ago. 

And year after year, He has watched it grow,

But over time, His work became clear. 

As He tilled the ground and the soil year after year.

Sometimes the seed simply did not take. 

And we think it’s all just a mistake. 

As the wind blows it away for the birds to consume.

And it gets trampled by men and dies before noon.

That’s when we don’t see a change in man. 

So the master gardener again plants with His hand. 

But this seed falls into the rocks and grows tall. 

Yet it dies quickly and we simply fall. 

But God in His mercy never stops working on us. 

He plants again but this time, thorns grow up. 

They choke the seed growing inside. 

It fails to grow due to man’s pride. 

We all are His soil, whose ground He tills. 

As He bends and molds us to do His Holy will. 

He tills the path so the seed will grow. 

And removes rocks every few years or so. 

But the thorns, they stick and hurt when he takes them away. 

Because we are the ones holding them with each passing day. 

We fear letting go so we play tug of war.

But God wins and He pulls out the thorn. 

With our thorns we find comfort in staying stale.

And it’s those very thorns that won’t let us prevail. 

But once we let go and let Him do His work in our heart. 

We grow up and become what He planned from the start. 

And at last the soil is good and produces a crop. 

And those thorns we hung onto are soon forgot. 

God has planted many seeds in my life through the years. 

And watered and cultivated them despite my fears.

Because He desires for me to be the best version of Him. 

He will till and water again and again.

He will always be there to comfort me as He pulls out each thorn. 

Giving me a balm of His healing as I am reborn. 

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson 

Luke 8:4-15 NASB1995

[4] When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: [5] “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. [6] Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. [7] Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. [8] Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” [9] His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. [10] And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. [11]  “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. [12] Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. [13] Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. [14] The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. [15] But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.