If personal ministry is often born out of our pain and long-suffering, can we minister to others while we are still walking through the fire?

"...I prayed and prayed for God to deliver us from this, but He never did. So, if we wait until we've been delivered, we may never get there..."

Photo by Alvin Mahmudov on Unsplash

If personal ministry is often born out of our deepest wounds, sleepless nights and long suffering that never ends - can we minister to others while we are still walking through the fire? 

My answer is yes. Here is why…

1. I think it can be the perfect distraction for our own suffering and in turn, allow us to receive comfort as we give comfort to others. Just like scripture tells us,

   “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” - Matthew 5:7

2. In addition to comfort, our long-suffering is also the perfect breeding ground for a more genuine helpful type of empathy that we can provide others who are also suffering. Try walking through the fire and receiving comfort from a friend who hasn’t had to walk through fires, yet. It’s a completely different comfort than the friends who have been there, or perhaps, it’s no comfort at all, as was displayed for us in the story of Job and his friends. 

   “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

   “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”- Romans 12:15

3. Our testimonies of faith “through the fire” can bring others hope, comfort, encouragement and perhaps even to the Lord. And they absolutely give God the glory. If we can be brave enough to share our trials with others…which I believe is a necessary part of connecting with others who are not just joining us in suffering with their own trials, but who may have a season of suffering ahead and when they get there, they can remember our faith and our testimony that through it all, God is good…and we can remain faithful “even if”, others can be encouraged, not feel so alone in their suffering, and may see that our suffering is, in fact, what brought us closer to the Lord and/or birthed our ministry. 

   “Not only so, but we glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” - Romans 5:3-5

   “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4

4. Another unique quality that has been birthed out of my suffering is this almost supernatural power to recognize others who are suffering, perhaps even silently. I call it Mercy Eyes…to see others through Mercy Eyes is to recognize pain and suffering where others can’t. This gives us a unique opportunity to love others well in their suffering where they may not let others in to know what they are going through. And if you’re concerned it may be ‘too much’ to bear because you already have your own suffering, God will provide graciously with how you need to love that person well. He always does when it comes to loving others well. We just have to make sure we are stepping out, in faith, to reach that person.  

   “Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” - Proverbs 11:25

   “God isn’t unjust so that he forgets your efforts and the love you have shown for his name’s sake when you served and continue to serve God’s holy people.” - Hebrews 6:10

5. And because our Sovereign Father doesn’t waste a single thing, he’s not wasting anything in our suffering. He’s using it and we shall, too. I have been working on a multi-part newsletter about the ‘Discipline of Pain’ (vs. the pain of discipline). Stay Tuned for more on that. But in the meantime, it would serve us well to take time to look for the purpose in our pain. There is one, I can assure you of that. And, while walking through a season of long suffering, I have learned we can’t wait until our pain is over to use what the Lord has taught us through our pain and suffering. I prayed and prayed for God to deliver us from our pain and long suffering, but He never did. So if we wait until we’ve been delivered, we may never get there. Once I surrendered to the pain and long-suffering and asked God to show me what he was teaching me, to open my eyes to what he wanted me to learn, then I was able to reframe my pain, and put it to use. We aren’t promised deliverance from our trials; we are only promised hope.

   “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised who love him.” - James 1:12

   “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

This morning, in prayer, I asked God where he wanted me to be spending my time. Lately, I feel all over the place and I have been earnestly seeking His will be done, not mine, in my restlessness. I said to Abba, ‘Lord, I have all of these talents from you and I can’t seem to stay focused on where you want me to be using them these days. Please show me.’ Suddenly, the word MERCY popped into my mind and I began to cry. I was also suddenly very curious about this “response” as it was not from my mind. This is usually an indicator it was from the Holy Spirit. What I was able to interpret in that moment of crying was a recognition that 1) I am currently having a lot of mental anguish and suffering with our circumstances and 2) I know there are other brothers and sisters in Christ feeling the same way with their circumstances and I know very personally how lonely and hard it can be. I know because I am there, now.

Mercy.

Give mercy to others who are hurting, even while I am, too. There are too many reasons not to.

Questions to consider:

1. Can I be vulnerable enough to share my pain with others to invite connection and open my heart for the blessings that may come from it?

2. Which of these five points spoke to you the most? Ask God to reveal why and pray about what He might want you to do about it.

3. Do you know someone walking through painful circumstances right now and you are uniquely experienced to comfort them because of your own pain or past pain?

4. What is God teaching you right now in your pain? How have you changed because of it?

5. Who are you ‘becoming’ in this season?

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