The Thorn That Keeps You Humble
“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” (2 Corinthians 12:7, ESV)
Paul had every reason to be proud. He had seen things most people never would. And yet he tells us that something was given to him to keep him from becoming conceited. He never says what the “thorn” was, only that it hurt, he hated it, and he prayed three times for it to be taken away. It wasn’t removed. God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
If you’ve trained for any length of time, you probably know what a thorn feels like.
Everyone has a movement that humbles them
You can be strong, fit, and fast and still have the one movement you can’t do, the weight you can’t lift, or the pace you can’t hold. For some people it’s double unders, for others handstand push-ups or a mile run. It’s easy to hide from, but that movement tells you the truth about yourself: you’re not finished, and you’re not as good as your best day suggests.
Ego is the quickest way to get hurt
Conceit shows up in the gym, too. It looks like adding weight before the movement is ready, skipping the warm-up because you “don’t need it,” or refusing to scale because you don’t want anyone to see. Pride makes training worse and injuries more likely. Humility looks like scaling the workout, slowing down to fix your form, and listening to your coach. That isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.
Limits can build you
Injuries, tight hips, old shoulders, and limited time or equipment are real. Not every hardship is a message from God, and some limits need rest, rehab, or a professional’s help. But Paul’s story reminds us that a limitation doesn’t have to be the end of your progress. It can teach patience, teach you to ask for help, and keep you training for the right reasons.
Strength is meant to be shared
Paul didn’t hide his weakness. He said he would boast in it, because it pointed to something bigger than himself. In a gym, that means being honest about where you are, cheering on the person finishing last, and letting someone help you with the thing you can’t do alone.
Try this week
Name your thorn. What’s the movement or limitation you usually avoid? Write it down.
Train it with humility. Scale it, slow it down, and ask a coach to watch your form.
Check your ego. Before your next session, ask yourself: Am I training to look strong, or to be faithful with what I’ve been given?
Your strength was never the point. Where it’s pointing is.