Oh Thorny

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 

Did you know that the word used as "thorn" actually means "stake"?  This was no ordinary poke that Paul could brush off and move on.  Rather this was excruciatingly painful.  It was a constant reminder that God had allowed this thing into his life in order to keep him humble.  Now, we're not sure whether this "messenger from Satan" was a literal thorn or some situation or ailment or person or trait.  What we do know is that Paul didn't like having it and begged God THREE TIMES to remove it.

Now, you're not going to like this next part, but truth is truth:  Our Happiness Is NOT God's Chief Aim.  Read that again!  Now think about it, if God's chief aim and purpose was for us to be carefree and happy, we would already be in Paradise.  But we're not there yet.  God wants us to learn and grow and sometimes that is a painful process, but we must learn and grow in order that God's long-term plan for us can be fulfilled.

Now, consider that if we could do all of this by ourselves, without God, then WE would have good reason to be proud and boastful.  So, to prevent that, God allows thorns in our lives.  But, you see, when we have reached the end of our tolerance, THAT is when God reveals His strength by pouring Strength into us.  

When facing "old thorny" perhaps we would be wise to ask God to show us what we need to learn rather than asking Him to take it away.