Paul's Response to the Thorn in the Flesh

For several weeks now we've been teaching through 2 Corinthians in a series I've called Real People, Real LIves, Real Spirituality.  Recently we came to the famous passage in chapter 12 where the Apostle Paul writes about his infamous "thorn in the flesh."

 

A friend afterwards sent me an email with the following comments and question:

As we were together this morning, it occurred to me, at some point [i.e. after 3 requests], it appears Paul "got" his answer about his "thorn" and made a definitive decision to quit asking and accept the situation. 

Is that how you see things? Just wondering vs. a person persevering (patience?) in continuing to ask for something God has answered in the negative. Its my belief that God ALWAYS answers prayer with a "Yes," "No," or "Not Now."

My answer:

I think that Paul rightfully kept pleading for the Lord to remove the thorn and would have kept praying/believing for the Lord to remove it.  Why not?  We are in the midst of spiritual warfare and unless given specific directions or revelation otherwise, we must continue to resist the enemy and believe that all things are possible with the Lord.  But the Lord spoke to Paul clearly that even though this thorn in the flesh was from Satan, it was something the Lord would not remove, but that he would give him grace to deal with it. Some might even say this was a lack of faith on Paul's part.  Paul didn't think so.  Paul understood God's answer in this case to be, "No."  However, what I don't think I said this morning, is that we should not assume that the answer will always be, "No."  Unless, of course, we are confident that the Lord has spoken a clear, "No."

In Paul's case, the Lord revealed to him that he was going to use this thorn to keep Paul from becoming conceited because of the "surpassingly great revelations" he had received.  What a deal!  The visions and the thorn!  Paul paid a huge price as a recipient of these glorious visions and revelations.  Of course, I think he would be quick to add that, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth compared with the glory we that will be revealed in us."  I am sure he had a pretty good idea of what he was talking about esp. in light of the visions and revelations he had received while in the "third heaven."