In The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis writes this oft-quoted phrase:

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

God often uses pain and trials to rouse our deafness to listen to him and open our blinded eyes to look at him. It is a surefire way of getting our attention.

But pain is not only God’s megaphone to us;
it is our megaphone to the world.

Think of the last time you heard of a Christian friend going through a difficult circumstance. As you watch them walk through the death of a spouse or a crippling diagnosis, their actions take on more meaning. Their adamant declaration that “God is good” means more when you’re watching them walk through a season of most definitely “not good.” Their faithful presence in church at a time when others may pull away preaches a silent sermon to your heart that may last longer than the one from the pulpit.

Pain may be God’s megaphone to get your attention, but it is also your megaphone to preach loudly to all those around you. Are you preaching the goodness of God in your pain? Or are you casting doubt on God’s love to those around you?

Gracious Father,
help us to look to you in our pain
and faithfully preach your steadfast love and goodness to those around us.
Remind us that you are near us when our hearts are broken,
and may we believe it even though we can't see it.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

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