Have you ever stepped on a grass burr? Ever brushed up against a thorn bush? How about falling into Cactus? I have experienced all three of these. Growing up in West Texas, there is an abundance of all three. As school-aged child, one of our favorite things to do during recess was to chase each other and throw “sticker burrs” at the person we were chasing. When that sticker hit, you knew it; it was moderately painful. It became painful when individuals unleashed their arsenal of thorny weapons on the target.

Fast forward to adulthood, and nothing has changed. Our thorns may be different. It may be a co-worker that seems dead set on making the workplace a battleground as they hurl verbal thorns about any and all they come in contact with. It may be in the home when a husband/father does not the biblical way of leadership in the family (I’ve been guilty of that more than I am willing to admit). Perhaps a wife/mother will not support the husband/father in his biblical leadership. It could be the strong-willed child that just simply wears you out with their stubborn will.

The reality is all humankind has some sort of thorn. Physically, our thorns are usually our health. It is some specific disease or sickness that constantly reminds us that life is temporary. None of us are immune to the “thorns” of life.

The Bible has some things to say regarding thorns. Proverbs 26:9 explains that a “proverb” in a fool’s mouth is like a thorn that falls into a drunkard’s hands. Hosea 10:8 has this to say about the sin of Israel – “Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars;” then this from Micah 7:4 “The best of them is like a briar, The most upright like a thorn hedge. The day when you post your watchmen, Your punishment will come. Then their confusion will occur.” A harsh proclamation of Israel’s sinfulness that certainly has application for humankind in the year 2023 and beyond.

Possibly, the most familiar passage regarding thorns is from Paul’s inspired letter to the Corinthians.

“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!” (2Cor.12:7)

For years I have thought about this passage. I’ve often concluded that it must be physical, like diminishing eyesight, that Paul eludes to requiring his spiritual offspring; I no longer hold the belief that his “thorn” was physical. The key to Paul’s statement in Corinthians is one word; “exalting!”

If anyone had a right to boast, it was Paul. (Gal.6:14) Saul, before he became Paul, was a persecutor of Christians. (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-2; 22:4) I believe thin the flesh” was spiritual in nature. (without going into great detail regarding the word “flesh,” it carries a vast meaning in the N.T.) I believe it was a reminder of his former life of persecuting those of the “way.” It, I believe, is what kept him humble, knowing that he formerly was a murderer of Christians. I believe it was agony for him. Paul knew he was forgiven, but his persecution was a constant reminder. He understood the grace of God and knew that it was his reliance on the Father of Grace that would see him through his times when the “thorn” was ever-present.

Obviously, we don’t know what the thorn really was. However, what I believe to be important is that we must rely on the Savior and the Father to get us through our thorns.

My personal thorn is my temper. It can lead to outbursts of anger that, in turn, cause so much harm to the ones that become the brunt of that anger. James gives us this through inspiration: “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (Jas.1:19-20)

It is verse 20 that brings me to my knees. Anger does not achieve the righteousness of God. If I choose to live a life led with the trigger being a temper that sets off the dynamite of anger, I simply am unrighteous. Any unrighteousness will cause us to lose our home in heaven. (Rom.1:18, 29; 1Jn.5:17) We are further instructed not to present our members as unrighteousness but as righteousness (Rom.6:13). We are instructed in 1 Corinthians 13:6 that our “love does not rejoice in unrighteousness but in truth!”

Of course, not all is lost. We can overcome the thorn/temptation in our spiritual walk (1Cor.10:13). The epistle of John provides this for our encouragement and instruction: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jn.1:9)

I do not know if I will ever conquer the temper; the more I pray about it and consciously work to not give in to temptation, the more my life and those around me will be at peace. This is the key:

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (Jas.4:7)