Why did God keep Paul humbled and allow him to suffer trials?
God kept Paul humbled and permitted trials so His grace would be sufficient and His strength made perfect in Paul's weakness. Paul's thorn, a buffeting by an angel of Satan, drove him to rely not on himself but on the Lord, showing that Christian service must be done as a weak vessel God uses.
Les explains that God gives the reason for keeping Paul humbled and putting him through trials and sufferings in II Corinthians 12:8-9. Paul besought the Lord three times that the thorn in the flesh, this constant buffeting by an angel of Satan, might depart from him. The Lord Jesus answered, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Les connects this to the whole concept of Christian service: the danger is getting the big head, and the minute we think we can do it ourselves, we are done. It must be done as a weak vessel God has seen fit to use. Les also suggests the thorn may have been a common eye disease of that period, repulsive in appearance, painful, and limiting Paul's eyesight, which is why he evidently dictated his letters, except Galatians, and wrote in huge block letters for his own sake so he could read.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
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