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Thorn in my Flesh

After several years of feeling tired all the time I have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Basically this is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing when you're asleep. Every time this happens your brain "wakes you up" to tell you to breathe. You don't actually realize you're waking up, but you are. It basically prevents you from getting a good night's sleep.
The treatment for this disorder is called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Basically I get to lie in bed wearing a mask similar to the one here
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and air blows in my nose and mouth all night. Fun! The idea is that the air prevents the airway from closing off and allows me to continue breathing throughout the night.
As you might imagine, it is rather miserable. What is even worse is that my sweet wife, being that she is also my bed partner, has to endure the sound of the machine and me breathing into a mask and hose all night. If you are having trouble imagining what this might be like, go watch Star Wars. Remember Darth Vader?

Anyway, I was pondering my struggle and a few things hit me.

1) Paul said, "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." I have no real idea what it means to suffer. I live in a wealthy nation and practically have everything I could ever ask for. I am not persecuted for my faith. I have a loving family. God has provided for me in numerous, uncountable ways. We should all take a minute to be thankful for the things we DO have rather than worry about the stuff we want. Really puts it into perspective I think.
2) Paul begged the Lord three times that his "thorn in the flesh" might leave him. God responded to him by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Oh that I might understand the depths of God's grace!
3) James commands us to "Consider it all joy...when [we] encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of [our] faith produces endurance." Could it be that God is testing my faith through this thing? Could it be that I am lacking in endurance? Most certainly it could, but why do I need endurance, God? What is next in my life that I am going to need endurance for?

I think I have to come back to the fact that I know God is a good and loving God. He responds to me as a Father responds to His children. I might not understand everything that happens on this earth, but I know God has a plan for me. I trust Him as a wise God who has "thoughts that are not as my thoughts".