Monday Memo 1264: A Thorn with Purpose
One of the most debated questions in the New Testament is, "What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?" Some believe it was poor eyesight. Others think it was a physical illness, constant persecution, or even spiritual opposition. The truth is, we simply don't know. I believe God intentionally left the thorn unidentified because if He had told us what it was, we would all compare our weaknesses to Paul's and come to all kinds of conclusions.
What we do know is that Paul desperately wanted the thorn removed. He admitted, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me" (2 Corinthians 12:8). God's answer wasn’t what Paul wanted to hear: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). God didn’t remove the thorn. Instead, He promised grace that was greater than the thorn.
That’s an important purpose lesson because many people postpone fulfilling their purpose while waiting for life to become easier. They tell themselves they’ll serve God when they feel stronger, have more money, enjoy better health, have more education, when their children are grown, or finally overcome a particular weakness. Paul teaches us something different. God doesn't wait until we’re perfect before He uses us. He works through imperfect people who are willing to trust Him now.
The older I get, the more I appreciate this truth. I have some physical and financial limitations today that I didn't have a few years ago. There are things I used to do that I can no longer do as easily. Yet I also find myself writing more, mentoring more, publishing more books, coaching more people, and reaching more nations than ever before. My limitations have forced me to adjust my methods, but they haven’t changed my purpose.
Sometimes our weaknesses actually make us more effective because they force us to depend on God and become more creative. Paul couldn’t always travel as freely as he wanted, but while imprisoned he wrote letters that have shaped the Church for almost two thousand years. Had he always been free to move about, would we have Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon? We can’t know for certain, but God certainly used Paul's limitations to accomplish something extraordinary through him.
Some spend too much time praying, "Lord, take away my thorn." Perhaps a better prayer is, "Lord, show me how to fulfill my purpose with this thorn still in my life." That prayer doesn't deny the pain or pretend the struggle isn't real. It simply recognizes that God's grace is greater than our limitations.
There is another lesson here that we shouldn't overlook. Paul never allowed his thorn to become his identity. He mentioned it only to explain God's grace, not to excuse inactivity. He never introduced himself as "Paul, the man with the thorn." He introduced himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. His weakness was part of his story, but it was never the defining feature of his life. In Christ, your purpose is always greater than your problem.
Another tendency is for us not to do a little because it isn’t a lot. We won’t help one person because it’s not ten; we won’t give $10 because it’s not $100. Your limitation may prevent you from doing as much as you would like, so the strategy then is to do what you can.
Paul eventually stopped focusing on getting rid of the thorn and started celebrating the grace that enabled him to keep moving forward. The thorn remained, but so did the purpose. God's grace proved to be stronger than Paul's weakness, and the same grace is available to us.
Don't wait until every weakness disappears before pursuing your purpose. If you do, you may spend your entire life waiting. Trust God's grace, be faithful with today's opportunities, and remember that your thorn may affect your comfort, but it never has the final word over your purpose.
Your Turn
What weakness, limitation, or disappointment have you allowed to convince you that you cannot fully serve God? How might His grace enable you to move forward anyway?
What Would Paul Ask You?
Are you waiting for God to remove your weakness, or are you trusting Him to work through it?
Purpose Moment
Thank God that His grace is greater than every limitation you face. Ask Him to help you stop focusing on your thorn and start focusing on the purpose He has given you to fulfill.