"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-9).'"
The 'thorn' in Paul's flesh is a mystery to the church. There has been much speculation and debate about what it could be, but ultimately we can't confidently assert a definitive answer. Probably the most common assertion is that Paul had some sort of sickness or physical/mental disability. That is primarily because of the words 'torment and weakness' that are used in that passage. The other common assumption has been that Paul had a sin or temptation issue that he continually had to deal with. Utilizing these two explanations, many Christians have used this passage to sanction sickness and sin struggles in their own lives. Without explaining in depth, I don't see God every blessing sickness, and especially never blessing sin! I think Jesus always wants to heal, period. So what is the thorn? Again I don't know for sure but this it what I think.
First off, the reason that the thorn was given to Paul was because of his 'great revelations.' So unless you have exceedingly great revelations, this passage probably doesn't pertain to you. Therefore your sickness or sin issue is not a 'thorn' given by God to keep you humble. In the passage, it says that it was given to keep him from exalting himself. We normally read that, and say that God was keeping him from being prideful and arrogant. But it says it was a messenger of Satan! Not from God! So why would Satan want Paul not to exalt himself? 1 Peter 5:6 says, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time." James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." What if Satan didn't want Paul's ministry to be exalted because he was coming against the work of God in Him! God does exalt people, and their ministries, for His glory of course!
Satan sent messengers, people and/or demons, to torment Paul; to make his life more difficult. They may have been preaching against him or questioning him. Maybe it was even James or Peter, who we see in conflict with Paul at different points in scripture. If Paul was less impeded by others, then more people would have listened to his message, but if his reputation was spoiled by others, then people wouldn't listen to him as easily. Satan was trying to keep Paul from being exalted in the minds of the people.
The other word that messes with our understanding of this passage is 'weakness'. The word in this passage can also be translated as 'infirmity', and is definitely used in scripture to mean sickness. But it isn't always used that way. In 2 Corinthians 11:30 Paul again says that he boasts in his weakness. Previously in that passage, verses 23-28, he lists his 'weaknesses'. Sickness is not included. Rather it has to do with his beatings, imprisonments and persecutions. He says the same thing in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." Sickness is not mentioned, rather his weakness is other people persecuting him! They are messengers from Satan working against God, and therefore from Satan. "He who is not with me is against me (Matthew 12:30)."
There are a few other passages in scripture that talk about 'thorns'. Each instance references people being that thorn; it never talks about sickness, ailment, or sin. "It shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live (Numbers 33:55." Other 'thorn' passages include Joshua 23:13, and Judges 2:3; in each case the thorn is a person or people.
Paul didn't ask for sickness to leave him, but for persecution to be lifted from him! God's response was 'my grace is sufficient for you.' This is similar to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane asking God to let the cup of torment pass from him. We need to properly assess this passage so that we do not let a lie trick us into agreeing with the powers of darkness. God does not sanction sin and he does not sanction sickness. I do not think Paul was dealing with either, but rather persecution from other people, by which he was able to participate in the 'suffering of Christ'.
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