He kept quiet for 14 years

 

One of the cruellest insinuations made about Paul was that he was under God's manifest displeasure. His attackers pointed to his thorn in the flesh, v. 7. It is not clear what this was, but the terms used are physical, and the indications are that it was excruciating. 

Paul is forced to explain how it is that he has this disability, and in doing so he breaks a self-imposed silence of fourteen years. Fourteen years ago he, “a man in Christ”, had a stupendous experience. He was caught up to the third heaven and saw things impossible to communicate in human language. 

Paul’s amazing humility comes out in the fact that he kept silent for so long about something that others would have shouted from the housetops. There had been a possibility of pride, and the Lord had taken effective steps.

Paul was given that which proved both painful and humbling. He prayed the Lord thrice for its removal, addressing Him who, in the days of His flesh, had thrice prayed the Father, “Take away this cup from me”. The answer came, v. 9. 

The words “He said” imply that the answer was repeated and final. It was valid for the apostle’s whole life. The thorn was not taken away, but then there are two methods of lightening a burden. Its actual weight can be lessened, or the strength of the shoulder that bears it can be increased. The latter was the Lord’s way with Paul. Sufficient grace and strength were promised.

The promise is recorded in the present tense; it is ours today. His grace is still sufficient, and it corresponds to our needs; never too much, never too little; never too soon, never too late. “My grace”, said the Lord. What grace was His! He was “full of grace and truth”. And that grace is available to us today. Once Paul realised that the thorn was part of God’s purpose for his life, his whole attitude changed. 

The thorn saved him from spiritual pride, made him conscious of his own weakness and made available to him new reservoirs of spiritual power. Through Paul’s weakness, God’s power, perfect in itself already, was perfected in its manifestations and operations. God’s power still operates in conscious human weakness.