Pain is a Blessing!

Though born in India in 1914, Dr. Paul Brand studied medicine in England and came to CMC, Vellore, in 1946.  My father-in-law had the opportunity to work with Dr. Brand as his Executive Assistant in CMC throughout his tenure in India.  Working with Dr. Brand changed my father-in-law's views on leprosy and the people who suffered from it forever.  Pain is not something that most of us would count as a blessing.  However, in his book 'Fearfully and Wonderfully Made' Dr. Brand says that pain is one of God's great gifts to us.  Many think a painless life is the best, but they do not realize that pain is the body's built-in warning system that something is wrong that has to be fixed.  Pain is indeed a blessing!

God sent Jeremiah to the potter's house to teach an object lesson to him.  Preparing the clay for making a pot is a necessary process.  Any air bubble in the clay will burst and wreck the pot in the kiln.  So usually, the clay is kneaded and punched before it is put on the potter's wheel.  Once on the wheel also, the potter shapes it again and again until he is satisfied with the outcome.  The clay pot is taken off the wheel only when the potter is fully satisfied.  God keeps working on us, His children, to transform us into valuable vessels, useful to carry the Gospel and as a channel of blessing to the people around us.  We often pray, saying, 'make me a blessing,' without understanding how we can become helpful to others.  I believe that unless we experience pain in some way, we cannot empathize or sympathize with those who are suffering.  Unless the Lord has corrected us,  we cannot comfort someone the Lord is disciplining.  The Bible says, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).

My friend, are you walking through a valley of tears?  Do not be troubled.  Pain in life makes us seek God more and desire to please Him more, and that desire transforms us into vessels useful in God's kingdom.  And through our pain and suffering, we can bring comfort and encouragement to the people around us!  Pain is indeed a blessing!

---