Why I wrote He ‘Wore My Thorns’

It was the end of August 2021, and I was walking through a dark season. It wasn’t because of Covid, but because of an ongoing trial that was affecting my sleep at night.

In that place, I drew closer to God through daily worship, prayer, and reading the Bible.

One night, during a difficult time, I asked the Holy Spirit what He wanted me to do. I didn’t receive an answer, and I fell back asleep.

The next morning, I invited the Lord into my day. As I sang songs of worship, I felt His peace and presence settle over me.

Later, while preparing to lead a work fellowship meeting, I listened to a Bible Project podcast on Lamentations titled “How to Grieve.” It felt timely as I had much to grieve.

At the end, there was a prayer and an invitation to bring our burdens to Jesus. As I sat at my kitchen table with my head bowed, I responded.

A divine encounter

In that moment, I had a vivid impression in my mind. I saw Jesus come and sit on the table in front of me, not in His glory, but as He would have walked the earth. He looked directly into my eyes.

He didn’t speak, but His actions spoke deeply.

I sensed Him taking something from me. I knew immediately that it was my crown of thorns. Though I didn’t see it physically, I knew He replaced it with His crown of righteousness.

When I asked the Holy Spirit what the crown meant, I sensed it represented a position.

My position had been under the weight of the curse, the consequence of the fall. But His position is seated at the right hand of God.

In that moment, I felt He was calling me to a higher place with Him, not striving under the weight of the curse, but resting in what He had already done.

As I later reflected, I remembered thorns represent the curse God spoke over Adam in Genesis 3:17–19. The ground became cursed because of sin, yet God still showed mercy.

Jesus wore that crown of thorns on the cross.

His presence reminded me He had already won the battle, even though my circumstances remained unresolved in that moment.

I also sensed that the crown He gave me reflected the promises spoken in Revelation 2:10 to those who persevere through trials.

If you are walking through a battle, whether in your mind, your sleep, or your peace, you too can bring it to Jesus.

He can take what weighs you down and replace it with what comes from Him.

Invite Him in and let His love and peace enfold you.

So this experience later became the poem: He Wore My Thorns and Gave Me A Crown.

Joanne Sojinu, Author of A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional for Your Unborn Child