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Dealing with Physical and Emotional Pain

It’s hard for me to read Paul’s words without wincing:

Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stone. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. (2 Corinthians 11:24–25 NLT)

Can you imagine being beaten and stoned? I cannot. Here is the awful reality of physical abuse. Few people will ever know such extreme pain. But if you think the man was pretty much alone in it all, read Fox’s Book of Martyrs. There is no way to get around it; God’s servants often become scapegoats. Too frequently, this is what we pastors experience . . . even today.

This is true emotionally more frequently than physically. Humanity’s twisted depravity, for some reason, likes to express itself in this way.

Take the prophet Daniel, for example. Faithful, efficient, honest, and absolutely dedicated, the man served others with a pure heart. But it backfired on him. The very people he worked with turned on him (see Daniel 6:1–13). They set out to prove he lacked integrity. They went on an extensive “witch hunt.” They left no stone unturned.

Can you imagine how that hurt? Daniel became the object of suspicion that led to an investigation. He hear whisperings about his character. Stories swirlled around, calling into question his words, his actions. Every move he made was being watched by frowning critics.

And yet there was not a shred of truth to it. He had been a model of authenticity. He had devoted himself to the dual role of helping others and honoring the Lord. He’s served Him faithfully . . . and this was the thanks he got.

Have you endured such back-stabbing?

It takes the grace of almighty God for us to press on under those circumstances and to accept His plan over our own. Press on!