Thankful for Pain

I have thought often lately about the place of pain in our lives. As I watched - not directly, for the most part, but from a distance - my mother-in-law through her final painful years and days, and as I visit my own mother in her pain as well, I have had ample occasion of late to ponder suffering and its horrors and its benefits. So in glancing through some favorite web sites this morning I came upon this Gospel Coalition blog on this very theme. I am grateful for one willing to write on the power and benefit of suffering, and find the quote from Charles Spurgeon of particular interest: “Health is a gift from God, but sickness is a gift greater still.” As one who has battled asthma, often in very severe form, for nearly 50 years, I am comforted by that quote, and I have slowly, gradually learned that lesson. Several times in recent years my small group has prayed for my healing; each time, I have found myself not fully convinced that I want to be healed, because the asthma has given me so much. This praying for healing thing: it often troubles me, because I fear we are too often defying the sanctifying work of God in the process.