THORNS ARE SPIRITUAL

2 Corinthians 12:7-8,"...a thorn was given me in the flesh...Three times I pleaded with the LORD about this, that it should leave me..."  What really humbles us and keeps us from becoming conceited or prideful?  Is it "physical" pain and afflictions, or something much much more?  Do we think the abundance of Revelations would make us "conceited" or humble us?  As our sins are revealed to us we are humbled to repentance; how can we repent, if we don't clearly see our sins?  Perhaps Paul had reminders of how he persecuted the Christians, stood by and watched Stephen being stoned, or how he put his Pride before GOD.  Paul is not so different from us.  As we clearly see our sins, our UNHOLINESS overwhelms us; we see that GOD'S MERCY, POWER AND LOVE is PERFECT in our weakness.  Do Great Revelations and GOD'S Favor make us PRIDEFUL?  Or, do they HUMBLE us to a closer relationship and Presence of GOD.  Could it be that Paul's and our "THORNS" ARE SPIRITUAL?   WHAT ELSE COULD HUMBLE US THROUGH REVELATION?