Blessings In Disguise!

Pain killers have their uses but Paul Brand, a Christian doctor working amongst leprosy victims, says that pain is a valuable gift from God! Because leprosy destroys all sense of pain, a person with the disease will, for example, pick up a very hot saucepan and get badly burned. Dr. Brand says, "Pain is essential to life." We all go through various painful experiences in our lives like troubles and trials, but some of these are of our own making because we ignore the pangs of conscience. These pains are really loving warnings from God, of danger ahead. If we are wise we will humbly acknowledge this kindness and alter course!

However there are many painful experiences in our lives that are not our fault but are part of God's plan to make us better people. Tragically some become bitter instead of better. It was to avoid this happening that St. James gave the following wise advice to some Christians who were suffering terrible persecution. He said, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." [ James 1:2-3 ]. The word count means count just like you would count money. Don't put your troubles and trials in the debit column and write them off as a dead lose, but on the contrary, put them in the credit column and believe that they are really blessings in disguise. This may sound too good to be true but it's not. The Apostle Paul, who suffered greatly through no fault of his own wrote, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God." [ Romans 8:28 ].

Wise people will believe this principle and remember that its greatest fulfilment came when the pains of Christ opened up the way to heaven where there is no pain! [ Revelation 21:4 ]