Father permits difficulties to come upon us so that we learn humility and dependence on Him!
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 12:
1 Although it may not accomplish a thing, I need to move on and boast about Supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 Someone I’m acquainted with, who is in union with Christ, was swept away fourteen years ago in an ecstatic experience. He was taken into the third Heaven, but I’m not sure if he was in his body or out of his body—only God knows.
3 And I know that this man (again, I’m not sure if he was still in his body or taken out of his body—God knows)
4 was caught up in an ecstatic experience and brought into paradise, where he overheard many wondrous and inexpressible secrets that were so Sacred that no mortal is permitted to repeat them.
5 I’m ready to boast of such an experience, but for my own good I refuse to boast unless it concerns my weaknesses.
6 However, if I were to boast, it wouldn’t be ridiculous at all, for I would be speaking the Truth. Yet I will refrain, lest others think higher of me than what I demonstrate with my life and teaching.
7“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.”
In the verses immediately verse 7, Paul describes being caught up into “the third Heaven” (Paradise), where he heard things too wonderful to describe. This was an extraordinary Spiritual experience. Because such revelations could naturally lead to pride, God allowed something difficult to remain in Paul’s life.
Notice the structure:
- Great revelation
- Potential pride
- God permits a thorn
- Paul learns humility and dependence
The emphasis is not on the thorn itself, but on what God accomplished through it.
“Lest I should be exalted above measure” (to keep me from becoming conceited), Paul says this twice in one verse.
This repetition tells us the main purpose:
God was protecting Paul’s heart. The danger was not external success—it was internal pride.
Throughout Scripture, God consistently resists pride but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Even mature believers require God’s ongoing protection from self-exaltation.
“A thorn in the flesh”
The Greek word for thorn (skolops) literally means:
- stake
- sharp splinter
- something painful that continually irritates
His thorn was demonic harassment.
Paul actually tells us: “a messenger of Satan”. The Greek word is angelos, meaning: messenger; angel.
Throughout the New Testament, angelos usually refers to an angelic being.
Paul was describing ongoing demonic opposition rather than sickness itself.
“Messenger of Satan”. Notice the balance, Paul says:
- It came from Satan.
- Yet it served God’s purpose.
This is similar to:
- Job
- Joseph (“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”)
- Jesus’ crucifixion
Satan intended destruction, but God used it for sanctification and God remained completely sovereign.
“To buffet me”. The Greek means: strike repeatedly; beat with fists; continually harass. This was not a one-time event but it was ongoing opposition.
Why Didn’t God Remove It?
Paul immediately tells us in verses 8–9: He pleaded three times for God to remove it. God answered:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
God did not merely say “No.”
He offered something greater:
- continual grace
- continual strength
- continual dependence
The Spiritual Principle
God sometimes removes trials. Sometimes He allows them. When He allows them, they often accomplish:
- humility
- dependence
- perseverance
- deeper intimacy with Christ
- greater usefulness
Paul eventually concluded: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” (verse 10)
Paul had perhaps the greatest revelations recorded in the New Testament, yet God paired those revelations with a continual reminder of his dependence on Divine grace.
This teaches several principles:
- Revelation should produce humility, not superiority.
- Greater Spiritual experiences require greater dependence on God.
- The goal of revelation is Christlikeness, not Spiritual status.
- God values character as highly as Spiritual insight.
The more clearly we perceive spiritual realities, the more essential humility becomes. Otherwise, the very gifts God gives can become occasions for pride.
Paul’s experience encourages believers to view persistent difficulties through a different lens. Rather than asking only, “Why hasn’t God removed this?” it can be helpful to ask:
- What is God producing in me through this?
- Is this trial teaching me greater dependence on Christ?
- Am I allowing weakness to become a place where Christ’s strength is displayed?
The central message of 2nd Corinthians 12:7 is not that suffering is inherently good, but that God is able to use even Satan’s opposition to accomplish His purposes in His children. Paul’s “thorn” became a constant reminder that the source of his ministry was not his own strength or extraordinary revelations, but the sustaining grace of God.