How can pain be a gift?

In the same way that physical pain tells us that we need to see a doctor, emotional or spiritual pain crowds us toward Christ and gives us a heavenly perspective, according to Romans 8:18. Without some “thorns” in our nest, we would get comfortable on this old sinful earth and never seek the Lord. As God’s people, we are not citizens of earth on our way to heaven. We are citizens of heaven sojourning for a time on earth.