Don't Waste a Crisis

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.