As a pastor and 56-year-old man, I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen personal family death, death of friends, cancer diagnosis, wayward children, and more. I’ve seen a lot of pain. But seeing it and experiencing it are two very different things. I’ve been able to give counsel and care to people going through tough seasons, so you would think that I would have been the perfect patient and the most cheerful person going through rehabilitation around. *Insert buzzer for wrong answer here!*
I recently had to go through the worst pain of my life – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What is a Godly Leader to do when pain hits home? As I said, the last four months of my life have been a painful journey, and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve failed miserably and learned from that. I’ve learned from what friends and mentors – near and far – have taught me. And, I’ve even learned from and been encouraged by the few times I got it right. I thought I’d share a few of those essential lessons with you as a Godly Leader for when pain hits home for you.
Here is the very quick version of my pain story. After 25+ years of back issues stemming from a major back surgery, I started experiencing new symptoms in April. That pain progressed to four emergency room visits where I was literally screaming in the back of my Telluride as my son or son-in-law attempted to pry me out to take me inside the hospital. All of the drugs in the hospital couldn’t fully take away the pain. That led me to what I thought was a one-night hospital stay back surgery that didn’t work, followed by a two-level fusion and ten-day hospital stay. I was and still am experiencing major nerve issues down my left leg that we’re trying to figure out.
I have to be honest and say that I am not a good patient – never have been. Because of that, somehow I got this notion in my personal theology that God would never allow me to go through extreme pain. Well, I was wrong.
Based on my experience to this point, here are three essential truths to remember as a Godly Leader when pain hits home.
#1 – PREPARE FOR THE DAY OF PAIN
1 Peter 4:12-13 tells us, Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world.
In other words, we are going to experience fiery trials of all kinds, including physical pain. This isn’t strange or unusual. In fact, it’s part of being Christians – “little Christs” – because suffering was His calling card on our behalf as well. The more we grow in our faith and expect suffering to come our way, the more prepared we will be. An analogy would be having a financial crisis without an emergency savings account. Panic sets in. You take desperate measures as a desperate person. You don’t see a way out or an answer to your problems. But when you have an emergency savings account, it still hurts, but not as badly because you were prepared.
I can honestly say that while my walk with the Lord was and is strong, I was not mentally, emotionally, or spiritually prepared for the pain. My future spiritual preparation will look different as a result.
#2 – FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:12: Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.
Here was my reality – I didn’t forget Christ, but I did wonder if He had forgotten to be gracious.
One day I was on the summit of success from accomplishments, experience, and gifting, and another day I’m in the valley of humiliation brought on by oppression, affliction, and sorrow. One day I’m as strong as a giant and all things seem possible, and another day I was as weak as a baby, weeping for joys that have fled. All of my very sunny days, where I could see clearly, turned into foggy days filled with the rain of my tears.
The reality, however, is that God’s saints do not live in perpetual sunny days. We are called to not enjoy just the sunny days, but to fight the good fight for the true faith. And, after we’ve done so, to declare His works to anyone who will listen.
In my case, I did and I didn’t. I’d rise up and fall down. I’d have a victory, followed by two losses. The essential lesson I learned as a Godly Leader was and is to hold tightly to the love and life of Jesus.
#3 – REST IN THE PROMISE THAT GOD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH
Psalm 34:19 shares an incredible promise: The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
Wow. Read that again. Memorize it. Trust it.
Each time. Each moment or season of pain. Godly Righteous Leader, He will see you through. He will do so because of His love, grace, mercy, and the power of prayer of God’s people.
A couple of weeks ago, Malcolm Jamaal Warner died as the result of a rip tide on the beach where he was swimming in Costa Rica – such a sad ending for the actor who shares my birthday: August 18. What many don’t know is that there was a second swimmer with Malcolm who also got taken out to sea by the rip tide. However, a strong swimmer was able to come from the side of the riptide to help the second swimmer who was drowning. The rescue swimmer was able to save the second swimmer. As I heard about that news story, the analogy came to me about my story. As I was headed out to sea, unsure of the future and how to survive my rip tide, the prayers of God’s people came to my aid and brought me back to shore.
Godly Leaders, please know that I am far, far from perfect as it relates to the pain I just went through. However, I can say that these three lessons have been made crystal clear to me, and I am challenged to put these essential truths into my spiritual life and practice for as many months and years as the Lord would grant me on this earth. I pray you might do so as well.
We could talk a lot more on this topic, but we’ll leave it there for now. What are your thoughts or questions? Leave them in the comments.
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Love being on this Essential Godly Leadership journey with you!
Essential Godly Leadership: “Leading your life, your family, your work, your relationships, and your world in a way that is seeking wisdom from, and pleasing to, the Lord Jesus.”