Why won't this thing go Away?

 Read 2 Corinthians 12.

False teachers confused the Corinthians with their erroneous messages and their attacks on the Apostle Paul.  They brought into question everything from Paul's credentials, his words, his speaking ability, and his personal appearance.  This is the third chapter responding to those accusations. Repeatedly, Paul "boasted" in his defense; sometimes facetiously.

Was he weak?  Yes.  After reading chapter 11, it is a miracle that he survived.  It is also a fact that Luke, a medical doctor, traveled with Paul.  The nature of his weakness referenced in chapter 12 is up for speculation.  Verse 7 indicates that whatever it was came as a direct result of this heavenly experience that took place fourteen years earlier.  A thorn in the flesh, he called it; "a messenger of Satan to harass me."

In an attempt to rid himself of this hindrance, Paul invested three separate intentional times of prayer for healing.  And, the healing did not come.  Why didn't God heal him?  It would have been very human for him to ask, "Why won't this thing go away?"  Something much greater was given to him instead.  Notice what he learned in verses 7-10.

1. He learned a new depth of humility and dependence on God.
Paul was so smart, so educated, and so strong in his leadership.  To have this position as an apostle and, then, to be given this special revelation from the Lord, he could have been personally overpowering with conceit.  He could have tried to serve in his own power, with the wrong sort of independence.  Christ is special, not the messenger.  The attention and focus was/is to be on Jesus.  Every believer must learn the lesson of dependence upon the Lord, in one way or another.

2. He learned a new application of the grace of God.
According to the Greek dictionary, grace is "the divine influence upon the heart and it's reflection in the life."  Paul had experienced the saving grace of God.  Here, what he learned was the sustaining grace of God.  As with each application of grace, we do not deserve it and we cannot earn it, but it is all we need. 

3. He learned a new level of contentment from God.
Dealing with "weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities" is not enjoyable for anyone.  Yet, the promise of Jesus is "My grace is sufficient for you."  When, by faith, we depend on Him we discover that His grace is enough.  It satisfies.

4. He learned a new demonstration of the power of God.
The success and effectiveness of his service could no longer be attributed to him and the power of his personality.  When people saw and heard Paul they could have concluded that he just did not have what it takes.  His critics said that.  But as he depended upon God's grace, God's power became evident.   In fact, it was this weakness that became the touch point for the Lord to demonstrate His mighty work and reveal Himself when Paul ministered to others.

Once Paul realized these things, he did not try to excuse it or hide it.  He began to boast about it "so the power of Christ may rest upon me."