Why I’m Glad We Don’t Know What the “Thorn” in Paul’s Side Was
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- Updated Sep 12, 2023
In 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, we read about the apostle Paul in his weaknesses and struggles. The “thorn in the flesh” is a well-known statement that he makes in this passage. The thorn symbolizes a consistent struggle that Paul had in his life that he pleaded with God to remove, but the Lord chose to leave the thorn and was his strength in the midst of it. Today, I want to share why I am glad we do not know what the thorn in Paul’s side was.
The Purpose of the Thorn
2 Corinthians 12:7b says, “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”
Paul was given a thorn to keep from becoming conceited. God often uses our struggles and weaknesses as a way to humble us and make us more reliant on Christ. The thorn was not easy for Paul, in fact it tormented him. Why would the Lord allow this in his life? Why does God allow pain and struggles in our lives? The purpose of our thorns is sometimes unknown to us. We may not have a direct answer like Paul did, however, we can be certain that if the Lord is allowing it, that He is inviting us to Himself in the midst of it.
Have you ever thought about why you have had a certain emotional or physical struggle your whole life? Have you wondered why even though you have prayed, the Lord has not taken away your temptation or your weakness? Paul did too. God makes it clear that He heard the prayers of Paul, but He did not remove the struggle; he left it there to humble Paul and cause a greater dependence on Him.
The Power in the Midst of the Thorn
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 says, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
I love the Paul shows his great desire for the thorn to be removed. He authentically tells of his prayers for the Lord to take it away. So many times, we too have asked for healing or freedom, but instead of giving us a “quick fix” from a problem, God gives us the grace and His power to persevere with it.
There is power found in the midst of the thorn. Christ’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses too. When we feel like we are helpless or struggling, we are invited into His incredible working power through the blessing of His Holy Spirit living inside of us.
The Relatability of the Thorn
2 Corinthians 12:10 says, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
And ultimately, I love how the Lord does not reveal the specific thorn in Paul’s life because it makes the thorn relatable to all people. No matter what our weaknesses are in this life, Jesus is telling us through Paul’s story that He is sufficient for our sins and our struggles. If Paul had described a specific challenge, then only those who have that specific thorn as well would relate. However, God chose to speak to all people and give hope to the entire world that through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and resurrection, we all can have joy and purpose in the midst of whatever we suffer. We are not isolated and unloved – we are met in the mess and given the power of the Holy Spirit within us to battle our flesh and enemy.
When we are feeling isolated in our temptations, we can remember the thorn of Paul. Christ can even use us in our weaknesses and draw us closer to Himself in the trials.
After all that Joseph in the Bible had been through with the betrayal of his brothers who sold him into slavery (which led to many more hardships), in Genesis 50:20 we see his response to them many years later, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Joseph was able to see past the temporary struggles and look to His Lord. What was intended for evil, God used for good and His purposes.
We too have been given this promise in Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” What the enemy desires to destroy us, crush us, and pull us away from God with, can be the very thing that draws us closer to Him. We, like Paul, can cry out on behalf of our thorn and pray for Him to remove it. However, we can also be at peace if that answer is not yet.
The thorn might remain this side of heaven, but we can be confident that it does not have to be wasted for the sake of the kingdom of the Lord, and He can empower us in the weak places.
Your Thorn
What is your thorn? What have you had a constant battle with in your life? What have you begged God to remove that has not gone away? How can you rest today in the joy and peace of knowing that in your weakness, the Lord has promised His power and that He is using this challenge to humble you and draw you closer to Himself?
When we think about one of the most beautiful of all flowers, we think about the rose. Roses have thorns to protect them from predators who would otherwise eat the pretty plants. What if instead of focusing on our thorns, we focused more on the beautiful ways that God is growing us and trusting that He might even be using the thorns to protect us from our prideful selves? We can thank Him for not wasting the thorns in our stories. His grace is sufficient.
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