Any study on grace would eventually arrive at Paul’s personal struggle and God’s promise of grace. This struggle is laid out for us in 2 Corinthians 12:7–10. For the first six verses of chapter 12, he talks about visions and revelations from God, and his desire to boast about them. Then mentions that, to keep him from becoming conceited, he was given a “thorn in the flesh.” He says he pleaded with God to take it away three times, yet God wouldn’t remove his “thorn.” Instead, God gives a very interesting reply to Paul’s request: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (verse 9).

It is clear that Paul was struggling with something. Some have suggested that it was poor vision (mainly because of a lone statement in Galatians 6:11). However, I have always had a difficult time believing this was his “thorn.” Here are my thoughts on why: most often, when Paul speaks of the “flesh” he is speaking of the sinful nature, not the physical body itself. So it is more likely that he is talking about a sinful nature issue, not a physical issue. In addition, according to Paul, this issue in his life was there to keep him from becoming conceited. Poor vision, or any other physical impairment, does not necessarily keep someone from becoming spiritually conceited. (I have known a few proud people who wore glasses.) Besides, this poor vision issue is only mentioned once, while other, more serious struggles are mentioned more frequently.

A more humbling trial would be one that is of the spiritual nature; possibly a character flaw he wrestled with. Consider Paul’s frustration in Romans 17:15–25. In this passage he begins by saying, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very things I hate” (vs 15), and finishes with, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (vs 24). In addition, in this very passage, Paul mentions these hated actions are done “in the flesh.”

It would make sense that Paul, a former Pharisee, did not like any lagging spiritual problems, so he pleads with God to remove it. Yet, God’s reply was, “My grace is sufficient.” Would God’s grace be needed for poor vision? Is grace simply a bifocal substitute? More to the point, can weak eyesight keep a person out of heaven? Of course not, so why would grace be the answer? Grace is needed for sin. It is necessary for spiritual “thorns.” God’s encouragement to Paul was that His grace is sufficient to save a frustrated former Pharisee who was still struggling with spiritual imperfections. This is again evident in Paul’s response to God’s answer of grace: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (verse 10). Each struggle Paul mentions in that list were struggles he met as he ministered and followed the path God set before him. These are spiritual struggles—not vision impairment! Therefore, I believe there is a greater argument in Paul’s writings to establish a spiritual “thorn” that would require such grace from God.

Why does this even matter? This gives me more hope. I can go to the eye doctor and get a new prescription, or get Lasik surgery, to improve weak eyes. But my walk with God is riddled more with weak faith, lack of courage, biased love, and other spiritual inconsistencies. No doctor on earth can help me with those struggles. For that I need grace. Praise the Lord, that’s exactly what grace is for! And God will say to us as well, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”