DON’T
WASTE THE PAIN

Topics: Growth; Ministry; Overcoming; Pain; Perspective; Suffering; Thankfulness; Weakness

References: Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; Philippians 2:12–13; James 1:2–4

Judy agreed to accompany me to Australia where I was to speak at a conference. I was thankful to enjoy a few weeks of my daughter’s company, and we excitedly planned our trip together.

However, two days before we were to leave, my back went out. I became more thankful than ever for Judy. As we climbed aboard the plane, Judy asked, “Are you OK?”

“The long rest will help,” I said hopefully. But by the time we arrived in Sydney, I couldn’t move. Airline personnel carried me off the plane and laid me gently on the airport floor. I looked up at a circle of worried faces. The welcoming committee, clutching huge bunches of flowers, did not look thankful to see their guest speaker from this angle.

That night, awake from jet lag, Judy and I began to plan. “You’ll have to help me, Judy,” I told her. “I’ll try to take two meetings a day, but you’ll have to do the rest.”

“Mother, I’ve only given two talks to the youth group,” she protested.

“What were they about?” I asked.

“Stress and anxiety,” she answered, grinning.

“Perfect,” I said. “I’ll help you with them.” That night we worked on her talks.

At the first meeting I noticed Judy praying for me as I spoke. And when she spoke, the women loved her. Somehow we struggled through together. We thanked God for each other, for the privilege of ministering together, and for the funny things that gave us relief along the way. We thanked God for showing Judy her own unique gifts.

We had nearly given up, but God gave us the strength to finish the course. By the time we boarded the plane to fly back home, we had a new vision of a ministry together that has now come to fruition in new and deeper ways.

—Jill Briscoe, Decision (November 1999)