A wonderful gift*
Hoeksema expounds on 2 Corinthians 12:7, arguing that believers must recognize all afflictions—even those that appear to come from Satan—as gifts from God's sovereign hand. The article emphasizes that true peace comes only when the believer ceases to see evil and good as coming from different sources, but rather submits to God's absolute governance over all circumstances, both joyful and sorrowful.
Herman Hoeksema was the first editor of the Standard Bearer. There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, namely, a messenger of Satan…. II Corinthians 12:7b What a wonderful gift! A sharp thorn in the flesh! Stranger still: a messenger of Satan who strikes with fists!1 And yet, that is what the apostle means. This is how it is before the consciousness of his faith at the moment; this thorn in the flesh, this messenger of Satan is God's gift to him. For that reason, and only for that...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org