In his article “Don’t Waste a Crisis”, John Ortberg talks about how suffering and crisis moments in people’s lives can lead to spiritual growth. He admits that it is not something that anyone should hope for or with on anyone else, but these moments often are more formative than small groups, reading spiritual books or experiential worship services. As a leader in ministry, we should use these moments of crisis in order to help people grow and mature in their faith. One of the key principles that Ortberg highlights is to not rush people through their suffering or preach at them. The last thing that people in difficult situations need is to be talked at, given cliché advice, or told to suck it up and get over it. No, people in crisis need leaders who are willing to enter into their suffering with them and come along side them in their suffering. The Bible says to “mourn with those who mourn.” It does not say to offer five simple steps to fix the problem. Sometimes, these situations take time to heal, and it is in those moments that true spiritual growth can take place. As leaders, we are often busy and it can be difficult to fit this kind of leadership into our schedules. But it is crucial that if people who we claim to be leading are in the middle of crises and are suffering, that we take time to simply be with them and help them to grow and heal in the midst of their suffering.
got this one!
ReplyDeleteJoel this really speaks to me and I so often find myself wanting to give advice and always trying to find the answer to fix things, but I am often realizing that people truly just want to be heard and to know that they are not alone. I especially find this true when people are in the midst of a struggle and crisis.
ReplyDeleteI think so many times in preaching and in life, we always try to give the 5 points or steps to find the solution to fix the problem. I am realizing that we are all on the journey and sometimes giving someone an answer or logical advice, is not the best thing for them. I am finding that being with them and walking the journey with them as a listening ear and a caring heart does more than one realizes.
A friend just told me a story about someone who came to them with a crisis and after the friend heard everything that was happening in the crisis, he really didn’t know how to respond. So he sat there with them and listened and that meant more to them than any advice or information could ever provide.