Dr. Paul Brand, a pioneering physician, spent much of his career treating leprosy patients in India. Through his work, he discovered that one of the most dangerous aspects of the disease is that it damages nerves, causing patients to lose their ability to feel pain. While this may seem like a relief, it can be devastating. Without the warning system that pain provides, even minor injuries go unnoticed, leading to infections that can become life-threatening.
After years of treating such cases, Dr. Brand came to an insightful conclusion: “I thank God for pain; I cannot think of a greater gift I could give to my leprosy patients.” [1] Though most of us see pain as something to avoid, Brand understood that it’s often essential for our well-being. Without pain, we might not notice a heart attack, stroke, or serious illness until it’s too late. Pain is what prompts us to seek help when we need it most.
In our own lives, we often try to escape pain, whether through distraction, unhealthy habits, or avoidance. But when we do this, we risk becoming numb to the deeper needs of our hearts. Pain, whether physical or emotional, can often signal something that needs attention.
As C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”[2]
Rather than viewing pain purely as an enemy, what if we saw it as a way to recognize where healing is needed? In our painful moments, turning to Jesus, the Great Physician, will offer the remedy we truly need.
[1] Paul Brand & Phillip Yancey, The Gift Nobody Wants.
[2] C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
