Anxiety Feels Like a Thorn
BECKY KEIFE
Lee en español
“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness …’” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
It’s taken me a long time to learn one of life’s most important lessons: My limitations don’t disqualify me from God’s goodness.
We all have limited resources and energy, and I’m not the only one who feels patience is in short supply. Our limitations can feel crippling, like lead blankets on our shoulders or shackles around our ankles, weighing us down and preventing us from living the lives we desire. We live in a self-sufficient culture that says we should be it all, do it all, and have it all. Falling short is not an option.
But God’s Word tells a different story.
In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul talked about what he called a thorn in his flesh. We don’t know the specifics, but certainly it was a limitation, a hardship, something he desperately wished he could change. Paul prayed three times for God to take this thorn away.
God answered in this way: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God didn’t change Paul’s circumstances. Instead, God offered His power.
That is what He wants to do in your life today too! Your limitation — whatever makes you feel like you’ll never be or do or have enough — is actually the doorway to experiencing more of God’s power and provision in your life.
I know this is true because He’s done it for me.
One of the biggest limitations in my life has been my struggle with anxiety and depression. When the uncontrollable tears come, when exhaustion runs bone deep but I can’t sleep, when my sensitivity is high and irritability is through the roof, I feel doomed to defeat.
Like Paul, I’ve begged God to take this thorn away. But up to this point, His loving answer has been: I will use your pain and struggle for My good purposes. I would rather you limp toward Me than run off in your own strength.
Friend, it’s time to reframe how you view your limitations. Weakness is not a detriment — it’s an opportunity to receive God’s abundant grace and strength.
To start, here’s a simple exercise for today. Take a moment to pray this breath prayer with me. As you inhale, let the truth settle in your heart. As you exhale, entrust yourself to Jesus and lean into the strength He provides for you each day.
Inhale truth: God’s grace is all I need.
Exhale trust: My weakness for His strength.
God, thank You that Your grace is exactly what I need. You are more than sufficient for every trial and challenge I face. Please help me see my limitations as an opportunity to experience Your power — not just in theory but in lived experience. I need Your real strength for my real life. Help me receive everything You want to give me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
For the days when weakness feels overwhelming, Becky Keife’s new book, A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul, will gently guide you back to God’s steady grace — one verse, one breath, one day at a time.
ENGAGE
You don’t have to navigate anxiety alone. Join Becky on Instagram for daily glimmers of hope and biblical encouragement. Or visit beckykeife.com to learn more about Becky’s speaking ministry — where she helps women hear God’s voice and experience His peace right in the middle of their struggles.
Enter to WIN your very own copy of A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul by Becky Keife. To celebrate this book, Becky’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by filling out the form here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify them via email by Monday, May 11, 2026.}
FOR DEEPER STUDY
2 Corinthians 4:7-9, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (NLT).
What limitation feels impossible to overcome today? What would it look like to reframe your weakness as an invitation to receive God’s power? Share with us in the comments!
© 2026 by Becky Keife. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Wednesday, 06 May 2026.
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