Pain. Unanswered prayer. A ‘thorn in the flesh’. The apostle Paul experienced these even in the midst of some incredible God experiences (like being taken to the 3rd heaven). Yet in spite of his pleading, God chose not to remove his unknown ‘thorn in the flesh’ but instead to grow Paul in His grace. During our urgent needs and apparent silence from God, we can experience God’s presence as He strengthens us in our weaknesses.