But God, who could have eased Paul’s suffering in an instant, chose not to do so. He reminded Paul that the “thorn” was to keep him from becoming proud and "exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations” he had been given, to keep him from exalting himself.
Ngunit sa halip na bigyan siya ng kaginhawaan, hindi iyon ginawa ng Diyos. Ipinaalala Niya kay Pablo na ang layunin ng tinik sa lamang iyon ay upang huwag siyang magpalalo ng labis dahil sa kadakilaan ng mga pahayag. Ngunit hindi iniwan ng Diyos si Pablo na magdusang mag-isa.