What is it that we are to learn from the Apostle Paul’s thorn that is not removed in spite of his focused prayers for its removal? Many would claim that Paul did not have sufficient  faith or else it would have been removed. However, this is completely contrary to God’s Word. Here are a few thoughts to help us with our own unremoved thorns and unanswered prayers. There are important lessons here for us all.

“The thing that troubles you right now, the thing that pains you, that frustrates you, the thing that burdens you the most and you wish you could get rid of… may be the very thing you want to keep… for it is the thing which will make God very dear to you and make you most useful for Him.”  — Don Sunukjian

A lesson from Paul’s unanswered prayer for his thorn’s removal: Is the chief end of praying to get our prayers answered?  Why pray at all?  Is the basic purpose of prayer to get things from God?  Certainly, the Bible assures us that God hears us and, in response, gives us what we need.  But is that the basic reason Jesus taught us to pray? “What if God knows prayer to be the thing we need first and foremost?  What if the main object in God’s idea of prayer is a supplying of our great and endless need — our need of Himself?”  God wants us for himself.— George MacDonald

“He brought me here. It’s by His will I am in this very place. In that fact I will rest. He will keep me here in His love and give me grace to behave as His child. Then He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends for me to learn in His good time. He will bring me out again how and when He knows. So let me say: I am: here by God’s appointment; in His keeping; under his training; and for His time.” — Andrew Murray