Chapter 12 (humility- selflessness/Christlikeness= sacrificial. Trials develop character. QSA Question: what’s the thorn? Was likely that he experienced physical sickness where according to the word used there its interprets to: constant pain, persecution. So metaphorical not literal thorn. concerning the thorn’s purpose Paul says it was To keep him from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations. So, God’s goal in allowing the thorn in the flesh was to keep Paul humble. Anyone who had encountered Jesus and was commissioned personally by Him ( Acts 9:2-8) would, in his natural state, become “puffed up.” Add to that the fact that Paul was moved by the Holy Spirit to write much of the New Testament, and it is easy to see how Paul could become “haughty” or “exalted above measure” or “too proud” . Vs 21? My God will humble me among you? Paul is saying that if he visits and sees that they are still living in sin, it will make him very sad. He feels like a caring parent and seeing them argue or be jealous and not change their wrong ways would hurt him a lot. He really loves them and wants them to be better So he’s worried that instead of being happy about how they’ve grown he might have to cry about how they are still struggling. Application: sometimes God allows us to face tough times to keep us humble. Just because things are hard doesn’t mean God has left us Instead God can use our struggles to help us become better people. also explains that God might not take away our problems but He gives us the strength to handle them and When we ask God to solve our issues He often gives us the strength we need to get through them instead. I shouldn’t think that being weak makes me worthless. My weaknesses can actually show how strong God is. A humble person who trusts God and stays positive in hard times can be more powerful spiritually than someone who seems strong but is arrogant. It’s also teaching about loving others selflessly. Paul says he doesn’t want their money he wants a relationship with them. Real love means helping others get closer to God even if they don’t always understand us. Isaiah 40:29 & James 1:2-4