The Thorn Has a Purpose

We all face struggles that don’t simply disappear. They linger—thorns that pierce our pride, patience, and peace. Maybe it’s a health issue, a strained relationship, or a disappointment that refuses to fade. We pray for relief, but sometimes God doesn’t remove the thorn. Instead, He teaches us to rely on His strength through it.

The Apostle Paul understood this deeply. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT), he writes, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Paul’s thorn wasn’t random. It had a purpose—to remind him that divine power flows most clearly through human weakness. The same is true for us. God often uses the very things we’d rather avoid to shape our character and deepen our faith.

When life feels unfair, it’s tempting to think God has forgotten us. But He hasn’t. Sometimes, the thorn is the tool He uses to draw us closer—to teach us humility, compassion, and endurance. We learn that grace isn’t about escape—it’s about empowerment.

Grace doesn’t always change our circumstances, but it changes us within them. It gives us strength to persevere, hope to endure, and peace to rest in God’s plan. The thorn that once seemed like punishment can become a platform for His power.

Maybe today you’re carrying something that feels too heavy to bear. Remember—what feels like a burden may actually be an invitation. An invitation to trust God’s strength instead of your own.

The thorn has a purpose. It may not make sense now, but one day you’ll look back and see that it was in your weakness that His grace shined the brightest.