My “Thorn in the Flesh”

Thursday, May 17, 2007

To my brethren and friends.

Those of you who knew me in the 1990’s, may recall that in spite of being in my 30’s, I was grieved by severe arthritic pains (mostly in my knees). I limped along on most days with a cane or at times 2 canes or even a cane and a long umbrella with a sharpened point (this point was for traction on icy sidewalks and subway steps). In my home church (Church of God), I was anointed by many different elders on many days seeking healing as Apostle James instructs. My pain remained with me 11 years. I received no help from doctors, prescriptions meds, over-the-counter meds, herbal remedies, physical therapy, etc.

There came a Sabbath day that I was driving the 40-some-odd miles from my dwelling to our church hall for services. After a long delay because of an accident on the highway I was on, it seemed like both my wrists were hurting. It was a warm and dry September day here in the so called “valley of the sun”. Arthritic pains could not be from cold or damp weather which is common in NYC but rare in this desert. Within another 15 minutes of driving I started having problems staying within the lane markers. After another ten minutes, my car was swaying back and forth so that I covered most of 2 lanes. As I cried out for the Eternal’s help, a pickup truck started following me and honking the horn frequently. I panicked and took a shortcut that is not marked to “lose” this pickup and its’ driver.

As I pulled into the church parking lot, I saw the same pickup coming from the main road. I felt secure that whoever was in that vehicle could not harm me now that I had brethren at hand. I parked badly because of continuing wrist pains but gave thanks for my safe arrival and for seeing so many brethren headed into the hall.

Taking Bible and cane, I got ready to exit my car and watched the pickup parking nearby. As I sat on my car’s driver’s seat with feet and cane on the pavement of the lot, I was surprised to find a husband and wife of our congregation running from the pickup to me. They were terrified by my poor driving and had tried to get me to “pull over” so that one of them could drive my car for the remainder of the trip to church. I apologized for the quick turn that allowed me to lose them because I did not recognize the vehicle and their tinted windows kept me from seeing their faces.

As I arose, I find neither hand able to hold my cane well enough to walk. The wife carried my Bible and her husband my cane. Then each slipped their “free” arm under one of mine and helped me into the hall. We recounted the scary ride story to our Pastor. He called for quiet in the hall and did the anointing, laying on of his hands on my head and a prayer for my healing. Services began soon after but I could only weep before the Lord our God!!! I tried to follow Pastor’s sermon but fear of becoming bed bound if my wrists were not healed was consuming me. At the services’ end, I had brethren find elastic bandages and “taped up” both my wrists.

With more prayers for my safe return, I was taken back to my car and practiced turns in the lot to prove that I could steer with bandages. Several brethren followed and paralleled my journey for the first 10 miles or so. By then I was encouraged by the improvements in my driving and let them go to their own places as the remainder would have taken them far off course.

I arrived safely and again gave thanks to Our Lord. Meds did not stop the pain completely and control of my hands remained poor. I went to bed and awakened near dawn. Being sleepy, I did not yet know that I had received God’s gift of healing.

I prayed while still in the bed and after a while took the Bible on my nightstand for reading. This Bible has words of Christ in red print. I often find it hard to read Gospel sections that have so much red that the text seems to blur even with my reading glasses. This reading of a couple of parables given by Christ had started to cause blurring, so I tried to blink a few times to allow my eyes to refocus. In this process, it seemed like words from different verses on the same page became large and formed the phrase “you are healed”. I placed my hand over this text area and took it away to see the same phrase. Being amazingly dull, I put a bookmark on this page and laid back on the pillow. I prayed something like “Father is this real? Am I dreaming still?”

I felt no reply, so I reopened the Bible and reread the whole page, now aided by sunlight coming in my room. No part of the page had the phrase I saw in one verse. I laid back once more but now felt His call and the profound and emphatic pronouncement “You are healed!” Tossing back the covers, I rolled right from bed to the floor and raised my hands. I began giving praise as I became aware of strength in my joints that I had not had for over a decade. I arose and walked without my cane and felt like I weighed no more than a feather. By His (Christ’s stripes we are healed!!!), however, God’s timing is not comprehended by us in the flesh.

I thought that it was God’s will that I remain limping and pained until I receive the fullness of resurrection in Spiritual & physical body! I foolishly pitied myself because it seemed like the “thorn in the flesh” that remained with Apostle Paul was also given me to prevent ungodly pride. My pastor and I discussed often the various reasons for the timing of this great gift. All we can say is that is God’s timing and we cannot yet comprehend it. The honor of spreading this “praise report” is for all the saints.

We must remember that when we approach unto the Lord our God in praise, worship, biblical studies/meditations or prayers, we are to do so with thankfulness. If our “thorns in the flesh” or the wickedness of this age are pressing on us, we can remember “praise reports” to restart our thanks to God! Even if we don’t recall a praise report, praise and thanks for our salvation by Christ’s perfect, atoning sacrifice is more than ample reason to be truly thankful!!!

This healing continues to this day in 2025! Doctors cannot explain how severely damaged knees that were to be replaced if I could find a health insurance to cover the high cost, now look fine in X-rays. I testified before these men, but they would not accept my testimony because they deny the power of God. They blind their own eyes so that they limit themselves to man’s works.

Shalom, (The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you)

John Tosto
Peoria, AZ