Thorns in Your Side? Why Pushback Means You're on the Right Track

A Rose with thorns

The Thorn in Your Side:

What Paul’s Struggle Teaches Us About Pushback

Have you ever felt like something—or someone—was constantly getting in your way, like a splinter you can’t pull out?

Maybe it’s a critic who won’t let up, (fake friends in the church, a coworker stirring drama, or even a doubt that keeps poking at your confidence.) The Bible has a name for that kind of trouble: a "thorn in your side."

It’s the kind of hassle that sticks around, trying to slow you down. The apostle Paul knew all about it, and his story, along with some Old Testament wisdom, can help you deal with our own thorns today.

Paul’s Thorn: Not What You Might Think

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul spills the beans about a problem he called a "thorn in the flesh." He got this thorn because God had shown him some mind-blowing revelations—truths about Jesus and the Gospel that were unlike anything anyone else had seen.

These revelations turned Paul into one of the greatest preachers of his day, even down to today. Everywhere he went, from dusty towns to big cities, his words hit hard, changing lives and spreading the Good News like wildfire. People listened, churches grew, and Paul’s influence was skyrocketing.

But that kind of success got satan’s attention. Paul says satan sent a "messenger"—like a troublemaker on a mission—to mess with him. This wasn’t a sickness, like some folks guess (nope, no Bible proof for Paul having bad eyes or epilepsy, or gout).

Instead, this thorn was more like a group of people who kept making his life miserable. Think religious leaders who hated his message or fake friends in the church who wanted his spot because they were envious and jealous of him.

They attacked him, spread lies, and caused headaches wherever he went. Paul calls it a "thorn" because it was sharp, annoying, and wouldn’t go away—like getting poked over and over.

Here's the situation: Paul says this thorn came straight from satan, not God. It was like a punch that kept coming, trying to distract him from preaching the Gospel and slow him down.

Satan noticed Paul's influence skyrocketing and thought, "There's no chance I'm letting this guy succeed!" So, he stirred up all sorts of trouble hoping to keep Paul tangled in drama instead of spreading the Gospel far and wide.

Thorns in the Old Testament: A Familiar Problem

This idea of people being "thorns" isn’t new. Way back in the Old Testament, God used the same phrase to warn his people about troublemakers.

• In Numbers 33:55, God says if the Israelites let the Canaanites stick around, they’d be like "barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides," causing all kinds of trouble.

• In Joshua 23:13, Joshua warns that if the people get cozy with the surrounding nations, those folks will turn into "thorns in your eyes," dragging them down.

  
  

• And in Judges 2:3, God says the Canaanites left behind will be "thorns in your sides," tempting Israel to worship fake gods and stirring up chaos.

In each case, these "thorns" were people who hung around, poking at God’s people, trying to pull them away from their purpose. Just like Paul’s opponents, they were a constant hassle, ready to mess things up if given the chance.

What Thorns Mean for You

So, what’s the deal with all these thorns? Whether it’s Paul getting flak from haters or the Israelites dealing with bad influences, the Bible’s showing us something real: when you’re in alignment and agreement with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit expect some pushback.

That thorn in your side—maybe a naysayer, a rival, or even a fear that won’t quit—is often a sign you’re on the right track. Satan doesn’t bother with people who aren’t making waves. If you’re getting poked, it’s probably because you’re a threat to satan's plans to distract you.

Paul’s story is super encouraging here.

Those guys throwing punches couldn't stop Paul. He kept on preaching, writing letters (yep, that's half the New Testament!), and building churches, drama and all.

He knew his thorn wasn’t from God—it was satan’s cheap shot—and he wasn’t about to let it derail his mission even when he was in prison. The Old Testament backs this up: God told his people to deal with their thorns by staying focused and not letting troublemakers pull them off course.

Kicking Your Thorns to the Curb

What about you? Got a thorn in your side right now? Maybe it’s someone who’s always criticizing you, a situation that keeps stressing you out, or a doubt that’s poking at your dreams.

Here’s what Paul and those Old Testament stories teach us: don’t let it hold you back. That thorn is attempting to divert you from your divine calling, but you possess greater strength. Like Paul, in your weakness, you are strong, because His grace is sufficient for you.

Take a page from Paul’s book. He didn’t waste time whining about his haters—he kept his eyes on Jesus and kept moving. You can do the same. Lean on friends who’ve got your back, and stay locked in on God's purpose for you because it's no longer you who live, but Christ who lives in you.

And my present life is not that of the old “I”, but the living Christ within me. The bodily life I now live, I live believing in the Son of God, who loved me and sacrificed himself for me.

Galatians 2:20-21 (J.B. Phillips New Testament)

Like the Israelites, don’t let those thorns hang around and trip you up—deal with them by trusting God and pushing forward in God's enabling grace.

Next time that thorn starts poking, remember: it’s just a sign you’re doing something worthwhile. So, shake off the distractions, keep your head up, and go after what God’s put in your heart.

What’s your thorn right now? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear how you’re handling it or pray for you as you push through!

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