Why did God say no to Paul’s prayer that He take away the thorn in Paul’s flesh?
God said no because His grace is sufficient, for power is perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Just as God gives grace only to the undeserving, He gives strength only to the weak, and His grace plus our weakness equals power in ministry. The thorn kept Paul weak, and that very weakness made him a fit carrier for God's power, so that the power of Christ might dwell in him. God would not remove it because removing it would have removed the weakness through which His power was displayed.
Source: The Basics The Basics, Unit 4, Lesson 4-5 - Empowering—The Spirit (Review q2) · Read this lesson in the book →
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Related questions
- Why did God allow a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 4–5: Empowering—The Spirit
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See also
- What was Paul’s secret to contentment?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 4–5: Empowering—The Spirit
- What does Paul mean in 2 Corinthians 4:7 when he says “we have this treasure in earthen vessels”? What are the vessels? What is the treasure?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 4–5: Empowering—The Spirit
- What Old Testament story might Paul have had in mind when he wrote this verse (2 Corinthians 4:7)? Tell the story.Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 4–5: Empowering—The Spirit
- Why does God allow suffering in the lives of Christians?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 4–5: Empowering—The Spirit
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