Leadership Thought: A Lesson on Redemptive Suffering from Last Night’s Life Group

Dear Friends,

It was a heavy Bible Study last night as 10 of us gathered around a kitchen table for our weekly Life Group Bible Study. We had been grappling with the death of a well-loved former member of our church who suddenly passed away from a heart attack, a family going through the divorce of a child, the death of an estranged daughter from her family, and this was only a part of some of the stories that were shared.

Midway through our study and overcome by some of these painful  experiences shared by those in our group, we suddenly ceased our  bible study and commenced a time of prayer for all of those difficult situations that so many of us  were going through.

This morning as I reflected on our emotional time together last night, I recalled an article I had recently read and saved from just a week ago. It was written by Pastor Rick Warren on the value of redemptive suffering, and I share it with you. Rick writes,

“When you’re going through pain, you can choose to focus on yourself or on other people. When you choose to focus on serving other hurting people, that’s called redemptive suffering. It is the highest and best use of your pain.” “No matter what pain you’ve gone through, Jesus wants to redeem your suffering. He doesn’t want it to be wasted! He wants to use it to help other people when they are in pain.”  “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:4-5 NLT).”  “Who’s better qualified to help a struggling veteran than somebody who’s been a struggling veteran? Who’s better qualified to help someone recovering from a prescription drug addiction than somebody who has recovered from a prescription drug addiction? Who could better help someone who is suffering from a chronic illness than someone who has also suffered in the same way?” “Your greatest ministry will come out of your deepest pain. If you’ll be honest with God, others, and yourself about whatever struggle you’ve faced, then that struggle will become your ministry.” “Sharing your strengths doesn’t make you feel any closer to someone. But when you share the experiences that have led you to surrender to God and rely on his strength, then you’ll be connected to others more deeply than you can imagine. Why? Because when you—as a broken person—share with other broken people how God has restored you, you’re not just sharing something you have in common. You’re sharing hope that other people can also experience redemption through Jesus Christ.” “Sharing your pain helps you and the people around you to grow in Christ. Using your pain to serve others is a form of ministry.” “Don’t waste your pain. Let God use it for your greatest ministry. I hope as you and I walk through our difficult times, we will remember Rick’s words knowing that, (“our greatest ministry will come out of our deepest pain)” not because it makes our suffering any easier, but because we recognize that God can use our painful experiences to bless and comfort others. Yours in faith and friendship, Tom