{"id":176,"date":"2026-10-18T22:06:46","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T22:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calledbacktogod.com\/?page_id=176"},"modified":"2026-10-18T22:06:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T22:06:47","slug":"does-god-still-allow-a-thorn-in-the-flesh-in-christian-leaders-today","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/calledbacktogod.com\/?page_id=176","title":{"rendered":"Does God Still Allow a Thorn in the Flesh in Christian Leaders Today?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When God Uses Weakness to Protect Us from Spiritual Pride<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh\u2026\u201d \u2014 2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered why God allowed the Apostle Paul, a man who faithfully preached the Gospel, performed miracles, and experienced extraordinary revelations, to suffer from a thorn in the flesh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here is an even more important question: Does God still allow a thorn in the flesh in the lives of believers today, especially pastors, evangelists, and church leaders?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe He can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But perhaps we need to understand something deeper about Paul\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Thorn Was Not Meant to Destroy Paul<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul had experienced extraordinary spiritual revelations. Yet, despite his calling and spiritual authority, he was not exempt from weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul revealed why the thorn was permitted: to keep him from becoming conceited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about that for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the Apostle Paul, who was personally called by Jesus Christ, needed to remain humble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pleaded with God three times to remove the thorn. But God answered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.\u201d \u2014 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God did not remove the thorn. Instead, He taught Paul to depend on divine grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes God does not remove the difficulty because He is accomplishing something deeper within us.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Christian Leaders Today Experience the Same Thing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely. God can still use persistent difficulties, weaknesses, opposition, and trials to develop humility and dependence on Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian leadership carries a particular danger: spiritual pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pastor may begin with a sincere desire to serve God. But as the ministry grows, the congregation increases, and recognition follows, something dangerous can happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leader may slowly begin to believe that the ministry\u2019s success is proof of personal greatness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of depending on God, they begin depending on their influence, reputation, financial resources, or leadership abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of serving the congregation, they expect the congregation to serve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of welcoming correction, they begin treating questions as rebellion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And instead of pointing people to Jesus Christ, they gradually become the center of attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A successful ministry does not automatically mean a spiritually mature leader.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why humility matters so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Thorn Is Not an Excuse for Sin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must also be careful not to confuse a thorn in the flesh with sinful character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people may describe a pastor\u2019s arrogance, dishonesty, manipulation, or abusive behavior as a personal weakness that God has allowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Paul\u2019s thorn was not permission to continue in sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible calls Christian leaders to repentance, accountability, self-control, and godly character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Peter 5:3 warns leaders against exercising domineering authority over those entrusted to their care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A genuine servant of God should never use spiritual authority to escape correction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A thorn may expose our weakness, but it does not excuse our wickedness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s Power Is Not Measured by the Size of a Ministry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, some churches measure success through attendance, impressive buildings, financial prosperity, social media influence, and public recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But consider the Apostle Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He endured suffering, rejection, persecution, hardship, and personal weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet his ministry profoundly influenced the early Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul did not need a luxurious lifestyle or celebrity status to demonstrate God\u2019s power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He understood that the Gospel was not about glorifying the messenger but proclaiming Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2 Corinthians 4:5, Paul wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus\u2019 sake.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That should remain the foundation of Christian leadership today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the Greatest Danger Is Becoming Too Important to Be Corrected<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most dangerous conditions in Christian leadership is when a pastor begins to believe that being called by God places them above accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But no spiritual title makes a person greater than the Word of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No amount of ministry success makes someone immune to temptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No congregation is so large that its pastor no longer needs humility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And no leader becomes so anointed that repentance is unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul recognized his weakness and depended on God\u2019s grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shouldn\u2019t Christian leaders today do the same?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do not know exactly what Paul\u2019s thorn in the flesh was. Christians have interpreted it as physical suffering, persecution, or another persistent affliction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we do know its stated purpose: to keep Paul from becoming conceited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God can still use difficulties to humble His people today, although we should never assume that every illness, hardship, or opposition is a thorn specifically given by God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the lesson is not that every Christian leader must have a thorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the greater lesson is that every Christian leader must remain humble before God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the moment a leader begins to believe they are too important to be corrected, too spiritual to be questioned, or too successful to fall, they are already standing on dangerous ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus never called His disciples to become celebrities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called them to become servants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A true servant of God does not seek to be exalted above others. A true servant desires that Christ alone be exalted.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.\u201d \u2014 Luke 14:11 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Question for the Church Today<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If God allowed the Apostle Paul to experience a thorn in the flesh to protect him from spiritual pride, why do some Christian leaders today act as though their calling, anointing, or ministry success places them above correction?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

May we never become so impressed with the messenger that we forget the One who sent the message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To God alone be the glory.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Called Back to God \u2014 A Call to Biblical Truth, Humility, Repentance, and Genuine Discipleship<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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