"Paul had his thorn in the flesh; maybe chronic pain is mine for God's glory."
How it sounds in your head: Paul was a great apostle and God let him suffer. Who am I to expect better? Maybe God keeps me humble through this pain. The verse says His grace is sufficient, not that He removes the thorn.
"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure."
-- 2 Corinthians 12:7Misinterpretation of 2 Corinthians 12 that ignores Paul explicitly calling it 'a messenger of Satan' and Jesus healing EVERY sickness.
It's the most quoted verse by religious people who don't see healing. If Paul suffered, surely lesser Christians should expect the same. Grace to endure sounds more spiritual than demanding healing.
Paul found Publius' father sick with fever and dysentery. Paul didn't say 'Accept your thorn.' He PRAYED, LAID HANDS on him, and the man was HEALED. Then ALL the sick on the island came and were healed.
I REFUSE the lie that God gives sickness as a thorn. IT IS WRITTEN Paul's thorn was a messenger of SATAN, not a gift from God. Jesus healed EVERY person who came to Him, calling sickness Satanic oppression. Grace sufficient means POWER to overcome, not passive acceptance. IT IS WRITTEN that by His stripes I WAS healed. The BARAK blessing includes divine health. I am righteous in Christ, and pain is not my portion. I receive healing NOW.
Your Father doesn't gift-wrap disease and call it a thorn. He sent His Son to DESTROY the works of the devil—and sickness is the devil's work. Your healing glorifies God more than endurance.