Disciplining Our Trials. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 The Lord did something very special for Paul that would help him to endure the suffering he would face in his efforts to win others to Christ. The Lord gave him a glimpse of Heaven. A peek at Heaven would put fire in his bones and a resolve in his heart to face whatever Satan threw at him. God often gives to His people, some clear and elevated spiritual comforts before they enter into trials, as well as while they are in them. The beauty of Heaven that is described in the Bible gives us assurance and anticipation of what lies ahead for us. The hope we have in Jesus Christ replaces our sorrow with serenity, our fear with faith, our burdens with blessedness, and our emptiness with enthusiasm. After keeping this event bottled up for 14 years in his soul, Paul shared his vision. The apostle was not quite sure what actually happened. He was not sure if he was in his body or out of it and mentions this twice. He did not know whether his body and soul were caught up to the third heaven like Enoch or Elijah, or whether his soul temporarily went out of his body. Paul says, “God knows the truth.” All Paul knows is he was “caught up” to the third heaven and to Paradise. He was there. He makes it absolutely clear, through a lifetime of nurturing from Him, that it is He who is accomplishing His purpose in us and we must wholeheartedly cooperate. There is much, much more to our lives than one, great sacrifice which shows God our hearts, and God will continue to refine us through all the days of continual faithfulness and growth if we stay the course with Him.The Thorn was Disciplining Gift.