The “thorn in your side” in the Bible refers to a persistent hardship or weakness God allows for spiritual growth, humility, and dependence on His grace. While we may not know exactly what Paul’s thorn was, the passage teaches that God’s strength is often revealed most clearly in our weakness.
In this episode of Some Women, Angela, Jackie and Pat are joined by Mary Powell in a lively discussion of what it means to have a thorn in the side and personal experiences of carrying one. Mary has been a longtime Magnificat Ministry member and Servant Leader. She currently serves as the first voice to women inquiring about starting a Magnificat Chapter in their diocese and is a powerful intercessor on their behalves.
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Why does God allow a thorn in your side?
That’s the hard question, isn’t it?
And if we’re honest, most of us don’t ask that question theoretically. We ask it because something hurts.
According to this passage—and the wisdom shared in this conversation—God may allow a thorn for several reasons:
1. To keep us humble
St. Paul had experienced extraordinary revelations. Without some kind of humbling limitation, he may have become spiritually prideful.
Sometimes our thorn reminds us:
- we are not self-sufficient
- we are not in control
- we are not God
And while that can feel painful, it is also deeply protective.
2. To keep us dependent on Him
Many of us only discover how much we need God when something in life stops “working.”
A diagnosis.
A betrayal.
A fear we can’t outrun.
A body that doesn’t cooperate.
A loved one who suffers.
The thorn often becomes the place where prayer becomes more than routine. It becomes survival.
3. To increase compassion
Pain has a way of softening us—if we let it.
A woman who has walked through suffering often becomes the one who can truly sit with another person’s pain without offering shallow answers. Hardship can make us more tender, more understanding, and more useful in ministry.
4. To reveal His power
When life is easy, it is tempting to think we are strong.
But when we are weak and still somehow sustained?
When we keep going and know it is only by grace?
When peace shows up in the middle of chaos?
That is often where the power of God becomes unmistakable.
What could a “thorn in your side” look like today?
A thorn is not always dramatic. Sometimes it’s not a mountain. Sometimes, as one speaker beautifully put it, it’s “the sand in your shoes.”
Your thorn might be:
- a difficult season in marriage
- a spouse’s illness
- caregiving responsibilities
- body image struggles
- aging and physical pain
- divorce or family brokenness
- fear of the future
- recurring emotional or spiritual battles
- the ache of unanswered prayer
And yes, your thorn may change over time.
The thing that was hardest ten years ago may not be the thing God is using today.
Can your thorn actually become a gift?
Not because the suffering itself is “good.”
But because God is good in it.
That’s the difference.
A thorn can become a gift when it:
- drives you to prayer
- strips away pride
- teaches surrender
- exposes false dependencies
- deepens your faith
- opens your heart to others
- keeps you close to Jesus
That doesn’t mean you have to enjoy it.
St. Paul didn’t say, “This is fun.”
He said he learned to boast in weakness because it became the place where Christ’s power rested on him.
That’s a very different thing.
What if God doesn’t heal it?
This is where faith gets real.
Because many of us believe God can heal… but we are living in the tension of the fact that He hasn’t done it yet.
And that can be heartbreaking.
But Scripture gives us a holy reframe:
God’s unanswered prayer is not always God’s absence.
Sometimes God is answering with:
- sustaining grace
- daily strength
- deeper conversion
- greater trust
- spiritual transformation
- an invitation to holiness
Sometimes the miracle is not immediate removal.
Sometimes the miracle is that you are still standing.
A Catholic perspective on suffering and sanctification
In Catholic spirituality, suffering is never meaningless when united with Christ.
That doesn’t make it easy.
But it does make it redemptive.
Your thorn can become:
- a place of surrender
- a place of intercession
- a place of purification
- a place where Jesus meets you intimately
The sacraments, prayer, anointing, Scripture, community, and the Holy Spirit all become lifelines in seasons where the thorn feels heavy.
And often, suffering strips away illusions and brings us face-to-face with what matters most:
- eternity
- dependence on God
- the condition of the soul
- the faithfulness of Jesus
How should you respond to the thorn in your side?
If you’re in a hard season right now, here are a few faith-filled responses:
1. Name it honestly
You don’t have to pretend it doesn’t hurt.
God is not asking for polished spirituality. He is asking for truth.
2. Pray boldly
St. Paul asked for the thorn to be removed. You can too.
Faith does not mean silence. It means bringing your full heart to God.
3. Ask what God is doing in it
Instead of only asking, “Why won’t You take this away?” try asking:
- “Lord, what are You forming in me here?”
- “What are You showing me?”
- “How do You want to meet me in this?”
4. Lean into grace, not self-reliance
This is not about gritting your teeth and surviving on your own strength.
It’s about learning to live from His.
5. Stay close to the sacraments and community
Isolation makes suffering heavier.
Stay connected to prayer, the Church, trusted believers, and people who will carry faith with you when yours feels thin.
When I am weak, then I am strong
That line from St. Paul is not inspirational fluff.
It is spiritual warfare language.
It is the testimony of someone who discovered that weakness does not disqualify us from holiness.
In fact, it may be one of the places God does His deepest work.
Your thorn may feel like interruption.
But in God’s hands, it may be invitation.
Invitation to trust.
>Invitation to surrender.
>Invitation to deeper intimacy.
>Invitation to heaven.
And while you may never choose the thorn…
you may one day thank God for what He grew through it.
Final Encouragement
If you are carrying something heavy right now, this is your reminder:
God has not abandoned you in your weakness.
He is present there.
He is working there.
And His grace really is sufficient.
Not always for the next ten years.
But for today.
And sometimes today is enough. 💛
Founded in 1981, Magnificat®, A Ministry to Catholic Women, an international nonprofit with over 70 Chapters across the globe, exists to evangelize and encourage Catholic women to grow in holiness through opening more fully to the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“My Soul Magnifies the Lord,” recorded in Luke 1:46, is the beginning of Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s joyful greeting. The entire scene of the Visitation is the inspiration for this Ministry. Through quarterly gatherings that include a Chapter Meal, praise and worship, guest speakers proclaiming their testimonies as to how God has transformed their lives, and other faith-sharing experiences organized in a relaxed social setting, women (and men) are inspired and encouraged to grow in faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. Magnificat® is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, an image of the Church, and model for all Christians, especially women. Visit: https://magnificat-ministry.org
FAQ’s
Who were the women that followed Jesus and his disciples?
Why and how do we follow and serve Him today? In this SOME WOMEN podcast series, based on the Luke 8:1-3 reference to women who accompanied Jesus and His disciples, Magnificat® presents a lively panel discussion, with occasional guest panelists, on issues relevant to women today. Various topics such as growing in holiness, community, living a Holy Spirit lifestyle, Spiritual warfare, nurturing a prayer life, and more, will be considered in the light of Sacred Scripture and teachings of the Catholic Church. Join us as we pray, learn, and experience what God can do in our lives if we let Him!
What is the thorn in your side in the Bible?
The thorn in the side in the Bible refers to a persistent hardship or weakness described by St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. God allowed it to keep him humble and dependent on divine grace.
What does “My grace is sufficient for you” mean?
It means God gives enough strength, mercy, and help to endure hardship even when He does not immediately remove it.
Why does God allow suffering?
God may allow suffering to deepen faith, increase humility, develop compassion, and draw people into greater dependence on Him.
Was Paul’s thorn physical or spiritual?
The Bible does not say exactly what Paul’s thorn was. Some believe it was a physical ailment, while others think it may have been emotional, spiritual, or relational.
Can suffering bring you closer to God?
Yes. Many Christians find that suffering becomes a place of deeper prayer, surrender, healing, and spiritual growth.
