What do we do when there is a thorn in our finger? We seek to remove it immediately. Why? Because it stings! And yet, when St Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to remove "a thorn" in his flesh, his pleas were not answered. Why? To stop him "from getting too proud" of "the extraordinary nature" of the "revelations" given to him (v 7).

Earlier in the chapter from 2 Corinthians 12, St Paul had written of his "visions and revelations from the Lord" (v 1); and of being "caught up into Paradise and heard words said that could not and may not be spoken by any human being" (v 4)).

So, instead of whining, St Paul chose to live with the sting of the "thorn" in his life. He chose to positively embrace the Lord's words to see his "thorn" and his weaknesses as a way through which the Lord's "grace" will prove "enough" for him, and through which the Lord's "power" will be "at its best" in his life (v 9).

In the excruciatingly difficult times in our lives, as disciples of Christ (especially having experienced great graces from God), will we choose to live with faith and quiet-steadfast endurance? Will we choose to be humble like St Paul, be "quite content" with our "weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies" we go through "for Christ's sake" (v 10)? And to be "very happy" to make our weaknesses our "special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over us" (v 9)?