I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 18th of June, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start with Psalm 34:19:

”Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Then we go to the Book of Romans 5:3-4:

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

I have never met a man or woman yet, who is worth their salt, who has not been through some fiery trial. Why are we so afraid of pain? Pain can be a good friend, pain can warn you about what is coming. It works patience in us, it builds character in us, and it gives us perseverance.

Oh, my dear friend, my father-in-law and mother-in-law spent a large portion of their lives working amongst lepers. They worked in leprosy colonies in Africa, and they would tell us that the problem is not even the disease, but what happens is, there is no pain and so the man is walking on a red-hot coal and he can’t even feel it and it forms an ulcer in his foot and that is where the problem is. He bangs his nose on something but he does not feel it and eventually it gets infected and so the disease spreads. Pain gives you a warning. When you stand on something hot, you jump off quickly. Pain is warning you, be careful. Pain can be a friend indeed.

Some of the closest friends I have, and dearest friends, are people who have suffered much pain - emotional pain, physical pain, spiritual pain. I am talking about things like blindness, deafness, lameness - and these people have got such gentle spirits. They are very slow to speak, they are good listeners, they give you godly advice if you will just listen to them. They are wonderful people to have around you but they have been through fiery trials. But the wonderful news is, the end of Psalm 34:19 says, “But the Lord will deliver them (you and me) ‘from them all.”

Today, endure your pain, whatever it is, with patience, and Jesus Christ will work through it and make you a better person, and you will be healed, and you will be set free, and you will be a nicer person to be with. Jesus bless you richly. Go and find someone today who is suffering and love them and comfort them. You will be amazed how much better you will feel after that.

Have a wonderful day,
God bless you and goodbye.