In The Place of Suffering

“God, get me out of here!”

We’ve all been there. We find ourselves in a place of suffering something we don’t like. It’s likely it’s not anything near what missionaries are experiencing overseas truly suffering for the Gospel, their lives in jeopardy. But, we suffer the loss of a good friend because of a misunderstanding. We suffer in our job being required to put up people who are… let’s just say… difficult to love.

If that’s you right now, here’s my warning and invitation to you. Stop asking God to deliver you from a situation that God put you in, in order to bring His Kingdom there! Often we want delivered from our assignment. When you’re cynical instead of faithful, you’re too worried about where you want God to take you as opposed to being faithful where God already put you! I’ve found some Christians to pray and ask God “deliver me from this” and yet be totally faithful in it. That’s beautiful. They pray for people in that place of suffering. They trust God in that place of suffering. They witness and share the Gospel with those people in that place. However, I’ve found others to have an escapism theology that only sees God with the capacity or motive of deliverance. They believe God’s only goal is to get them out. But what if God was the one who put you in or at minimal, allowed you to go in? God allowed those three Hebrew teens to face the fire. Jesus was revealed. Hearts were changed. God didn’t deliver young Daniel from being required to serve not one evil king, but many. However God used him in the place of suffering?

Sometimes we think a bad situation we’re in can’t be God’s will or that God simply isn’t answering our prayers or even hearing us pray. I fear that some Christians are waiting on God to get them out of a situation that God has allowed them to be in so they can turn hearts toward Him in that situation. More than you ask God to remove you from a situation, ask God to help you be faithful in it first. God’s plan for the redemption of earth and mankind has always involved the partnership with man - namely Christians now sealed with His Spirit upon receiving what Paul called “The Spirit of Adoption.” We as sons and daughters minister to hurting and angry hearts wherever we are.

I want to tell you about Tony Pantine and his son Daniel. Daniel was born with a rare neuromuscular disease, which caused him to use a wheelchair to move, an iron lung to breathe, and others to help with every daily care needed. He grew up in a home environment where his disability was celebrated as making him unique, and his abilities and inabilities were seen as opportunities to affect the lives of other people.

Daniel was a published writer and an accomplished songwriter and musician. He traveled for several years teaching disability awareness in schools, service organizations and churches. Daniel’s message was that all people are created equal and with purpose and can affect the world they live in by using the gifts and talents with which they are endowed. It was Daniel’s dream to create an accessible community in which people with disabilities could live in a loving, family style setting where their gifts and talents could be used to help others in the community. Daniel imparted this dream to his family upon his death at the age of just 22, and they have been working towards offering the opportunities Daniel desired to all who wish to participate. Camp Daniel was named in memory of Daniel Piantine, son and brother to the founders.

I was at Camp Daniel teaching songwriters about songwriting and the music industry and it was so cool to hear this story from Tony, Daniel’s father. Tony did not want his son to have a rare disease causing him to suffer, struggle to breathe or be bound to a wheelchair. But Daniel and Daniels’ parents didn’t turn anger towards God. They didn’t just wait until God delivered them from their situation. They asked HOW can we serve God IN this situation.

In my book, The Process of a Leader Part 2, I shared the story of the Biblical Daniel and said that “If we were God, we would have delivered Daniel from the situation. But we’re not. Thank goodness. God used Daniel in the situation to bring glory to God and regional transformation. Stop asking God to deliver you from your assignment. Instead, ask Him how you can be faithful in the midst of your suffering in order to bring Him glory.”

So where are you today?

Are you in a job you don’t like with a boss you can’t stand? Have you considered asking God “How can I minister the Gospel to him?” As opposed to “God, You gotta get me out of here!”

Are you in a marriage with a cantankerous spouse who only voices their disapproval of everything you do? As a pastor, I’ve met with quite a few Christians in that place and they’ll ask me “Pastor, how do I love them well when they’re treating me so terribly?” It’s a hard question to answer but I always reply with something like “Well, God didn’t say to honor your spouse if they treat you well. Your job as a husband is to show respect and love even if they’re rude. We just have to pray that our love melts their heart and God’s Spirit brings the change.” Instead of asking God “How are you going to get me out of this marriage?!” Ask Him “God, how can I show my love to my spouse so well that it melts their heart and our marriage improves so we can glorify You?”

Are you on staff at a church with a pastor who disregards you and only cares about buts in the seats and “the numbers”? (Yes I’ve heard you vent to me about that across a table at a coffee shop) I know you’re tempted to pray “God, get me out of here!” But instead, what if you prayed “God, please help my pastor to see people, truly see them. God, I pray blessings on my pastor, even though I don’t see eye to eye with him right now…” Change your prayers and watch God begin to soften their heart and love emerge.

I’m just saying, sometimes flowers grow in the sidewalk.