And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2 Corinthians 12:7
We don’t know for sure what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but it came from Satan. God allowed it for Paul’s good. Looking into the Greek meaning of this word translated buffet, we find it described as to rap with the fist. This would not be a pleasant experience. Paul desired God to deliver him from that situation, and he asked God three times to do so. But God let him know that He was allowing Paul to go through this for his good. Since Paul had prayed repeatedly about the situation, we realize it took Paul awhile to understand God was in it and was turning it to Paul’s good. God wants us to have a good life here, but his number one concern is that we make it to heaven. And any unpleasantness He allows to come our way works together for our spiritual good. 2Co.4:15
says, “For ALL things are for your sakes..”. also Ro. 8:28 expresses the same thought,
“And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God..”. So when God does not grant our desire when we pray, may we consider if something good, something better than our request, is in the making.
