"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me." 2 Corinthians 12:7
Pride is defined as "a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired" and conceit is defined as "excessive pride in oneself."
Paul was not immune to the dangers of pride. None of us are. But I wonder what Paul's visions and revelations from the Lord looked like to him and then sharing them to others could be considered suspicious or believed or something in between. So in order to prevent coming across as superior or of an elevated status, he was given the thorn in his flesh as a way to show he too suffered. Was the thorn given to him by GOD and Satan was present and happily afflicting Paul with this thorn and was this a way to keep Paul from showing conceited pride and being raised above others? So once again, GOD had a plan, a perfect plan and despite Paul praying to GOD repeatedly, three times in fact, he had to be wondering what GOD was trying to tell him.
As I continued to read through this segment on Paul's vision and his thorn, and getting to the end after GOD spoke to him and said "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness", it is clear to me that GOD wanted Paul to know that instead of removing the thorn from his life, GOD gave and would keep giving his grace to Paul and that grace would be sufficient for Paul to meet his every need.
How often do we question the challenges and tough times we are faced with and wanting GOD to provide a solution, and a fast one at that? And when that doesn't happen, we question whether GOD is there, listening to us? We need to be reminded over and over again, that even when Paul was desperate in his desire to find relief from his burden, it can come by removing the load or by strengthening the shoulder that bears the load. Instead of taking away the thorn, GOD strengthened Paul under it, and GOD showed his strength through Paul's apparent weakness.
Isn't it amazing that we really don't believe GOD's grace is sufficient until we believe we are insufficient? It's so hard for us to learn to receive GOD's strength at times and we tend to do it more when we recognize our weakness and insufficiency. His hope is for us to always just trust in him and to know his grace is always sufficient. We need to trust that he has a plan and he will provide. Paul certainly showed that over and over with all he went through as he spread the Good Word.