In your circumstances, the LORD has the power to answer. Sometimes He answers by removing the “thorn.” We often pray to this end, but when He does not then we often find an “offense” in Him. Why?

The Deficiency is not in the LORD.
The Deficiency is not in His Grace.
The Deficiency at times is in our view of Him.
The Deficiency is our attitude, very often it is, “my will be done,” rather than a heart in submission, “Your will be done!” And when we do not get the answer we want- He becomes a stumbling block to us!
We falsely believe God is OBLIGATED to answer our payer the way we Want! We DEMAND He exists to serve us and “prosper” and “pamper” us and when He does not we find  an “offense” with Him!

We wrongly believe He exists for us, rather than we exist for Him and His purposes. We are to pray from a heart of submission, by all means asking Him to remove the “thorn” but if He chooses not to, knowing He has a purpose and HE is sufficient for us in it. If you find you cannot pray from such a heart, ask Him to help you come to that place. His grace extends to every area of our lives!

Sometimes the “thorn” can reveal the false concepts we have of Him, that we believe that He exists to serve us and that mirrors a heart of a lost person. But, even a believer can have his or heart exposed to wrong concepts when “bad, difficult” things happen to us. But just as Jesus restored Peter, so we too can be restored to see things from God’s perspective that we were created for His glory, and are to do “all for the glory of God.” – {Read Isaiah 43:7; Luke 22:31-32; 1 Cor 10:31}. This can include suffering for the glory of God! God could have removed or even kept Paul from having such an excruciating “thorn.” But in His wisdom,Divine purpose, He knew what was best for Paul, to keep him from exalting himself due to the great revelations he had {v7}, and also to show Himself strong through the weakness of a man who trusted God and was dependent upon Him. Weakness is not a disqualification from being greatly used by God in the circumstances you find yourself in!

Weakness can be the greatest strength you have, when placed in His care, for His purposes and glory!

The LORD did not remove Paul’s “thorn,” but He did display grace and power to him and through him… and centuries later we see a wonderful testimony to what He is able to do where a man submits to Him and as a result, “gladly boasts in weakness,” understanding from God’s perspective for him, – “when I am weak then I am strong!”  You, upon your conversion, in gratitude wanted to love Him, serve Him, because of His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness He bestowed upon you plus so many more acts of goodness, { Look at these verses and see some of His great gift of salvation which include among others these…See Romans 5:1-2; Eph 1:3-13; 1 Peter 1:3, Phil 4:13, 2 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Cor 3:5; John 15:10 ect.}. These verses should help us develop faith in Him and not fault!

The difficulties of life have been predicted by Jesus that “in this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” James wrote, “when you have trials.” Difficulties, troubles, “thorn” are part of this fallen world but when placed by faith in His Hand they can turn out to magnify Him in a wonderful way.  Even if your place in life you now find yourself shut up in a room or on a sick bed you can pray and your prayers can have eternal influence. Do not slip, or should I say into self pity but know, He says,”My grace is sufficient for you.”

Let us resist the evil one, from choosing to yield to his demonic temptation to find “fault” with the One who gave Himself up for us, to be our sin bearer so that we would not die in our sin. Let us refuse  and resist the evil one and our own self that would cause us to yield to the temptation and sin by finding “fault” with Jesus. Instead let us by all means ask Him to remove “the thorn,” but in the meantime let us trust Him that He will strengthen us to be to Him His vessel fit for His use and glorify Him in our present difficulties. Easier said than done you or I may apply as we complain, But enough! We are His. He purchased us with His blood to glorify Him with our bodies {1 Cor 6:20}. Paul while in prison wrote “my circumstances have worked out to FURTHER THE GOSPEL”- v 13 He did so by EVANGELIZING the lost. v 14- He did this through ENCOURAGING the brethren to speak the Word of God boldly without fear! In your circumstances you can be as Paul who PRAYED for the Believers-{Phil 1:9-11.}

WE EXIST FOR HIM-

PRAY AND ASK GOD TO REMOVE THE “THORN.”

BUT KNOW, IF HE CHOOSES NOT TO REMOVE IT, HE HAS A PURPOSE IN IT TO FURTHER HIS NAME, FAME.

SUBMIT TO HIM- SEE YOUR WEAKNESS AS HIS MEANS TO SHOW FORTH HIS POWER – THROUGH YOU!

 

CHOOSE NOT TO FIND FAULT WITH GOD.

 CHOOSE TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD