Journals @ Awaken This HeartThe musings of Pastor Corey Gibson on leadership, ministry and life.

Over the last 12 years in ministry, I have faced the dreaded pain of life. The Pain of death, failure, betrayal, and lack.  This pain cuts deep but was a part of the process, that God has me on. Pain is a part of ministry and leadership. It’s a reality that must work its course. If you are drawing breath right now, you will go through some kind of pain.

It’s not easy to deal with but it is needed for the journey God wants to take us on. It teaches us wisdom, resiliency, faith, hope and to have tough skin. The necessity of pain is shaped by our experiences in life. Pain doesn’t just show up for no reason; it’s a sure sign that something needs to change.

We have all heard of the old saying that “what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger,” or “pain is gain” — both are true and Biblical. A.W. Tozer says it this way about pain and trials of life:

“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”

There was a man in the Bible who was all too familiar with pain, anguish, and the tears of life. This man found himself in a garden alone, after living a holy and blameless life, betrayed by a friend and tired. He spent that time in the garden crying and feeling the proverbial weight on his shoulders as he will soon carry the sins of mankind upon his back. Knowing fully well that his father for a brief moment would turn his back on him. He knew his impending death for a crime he did not commit was drawing near. This man, of course, is Jesus and this reality surrounds his death by crucifixion. But it lends us a first-hand experience into how to deal with pain.

Pain will either propel you to your destiny or cripple you in being stagnant…  the choice in how you respond is solely yours. Jesus could have decided that he wasn’t going to endure the cross (pain). He could have allowed his flesh and human nature to take over his deity. We know with any doubt that if this choice was made, he would have never reached his full earthly potential and destiny (earthly – to atone for sin as the perfect sacrifice, making us sons & daughters of God, the Father).

Practical Ways to Deal With Pain

1. Identify what or who caused the Pain – was it a boss, parent, friend, an ex, health issues, a death, an accident, yourself?
2. Seek to understand how you can grow from the Pain – will I grow as a leader, employee, spouse, OR has this happened so I can chase my dreams or fulfill my purpose?
3. Honor the Pain (probably the hardest part) – can you see the good in the Pain and/or even thank the person or thing that cause the pain? This is for you, and not the other person.
4. MOVE FORWARD – simply embrace the change and growth from the pain! Pray and rejoice in who God is shaping you to become.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 | That’s why we are not discouraged. No, even if outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are being renewed each and every day. This light, temporary nature of our suffering is producing for us an everlasting weight of glory, far beyond any comparison, because we do not look for things that can be seen but for things that cannot be seen. For things that can be seen are temporary, but things that cannot be seen are eternal.

1 Peter 4:12-13 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange was 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.

2 Corinthians 7:8-11 | For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.  As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.  For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point, you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.