No Pain No Gain

Enjoying a tour of the Starbucks Costa Rican Coffee Plantation.

When Pam and I decided that the next chapter of our lives would call us into deep water, I don’t think that we fully appreciated that deep water can often be painful. We told ourselves repeatedly that we wanted to live on the edge for Jesus. We wanted to go full-throttle for the Lord until our last breath. We did not want to coast in ministry or spiritually chill-out for the last quarter of our lives. 

So, we made some not-so-common decisions for people in their mid-60’s. We stepped away from leading one of the most amazing churches in America (Summit), sold our dream house and most of our belongings and moved to Costa Rica to lead a small English-speaking congregation that was on the verge of shutting down.

The thrill of the new chapter propelled us forward for several months. The excitement of making a home in our new country was energizing. Seeing new places, learning new rhythms, discovering how to minister in a new setting were all very rewarding.

But the deep waters have, also, not been without pain. We have been stretched in ways we could not have imagined. In many respects, our ministry with English Christian Fellowship is like planting a new church. After the pain and sacrifice that it took to plant Summit, we told countless people over the years that we would never plant another church. But God has a curious sense of humor, doesn’t he? I now realize that it’s better to never say never when it comes to God!

When this chapter began, Pam and I looked ahead to new spiritual adventures, fresh ministry victories and traveling to exotic places. Somehow, I had forgotten the wisdom I heard years ago from Dean Pense, one of the men that God used to call us to Sparks, Nevada.  Dean often said: “Before God will work through someone to plant a new church, he will first work in him (or her)…deeply and often painfully.”

So, these first few months of deep waters have been exhilarating, but they have also been filled with challenges. But that’s how we grow, isn’t it? Spiritual growth of any kind almost always involves navigating through difficulties. We rarely learn significant spiritual insights or have our character molded while relaxing on a beach sipping a piña colada. I need to remember that going forward. You need to remember that, too.

In the midst of a recent challenging episode, someone approached me and said he thought I looked more relaxed…deeper perhaps…more serene. I assure you that those are not descriptions about me that I’ve heard very often in my life. But I’ve reflected on those comments. And I wonder if the most important thing that God wants to do in this “exciting new chapter” is not to grow another thriving church...but to grow me into a more thriving Jesus-lover.

Looking back, I don’t think Pam and I really knew what we were asking for last year. We wanted deep water. Adventure. Fun. Kingdom advancement. But now I realize that Jesus just wanted more of us. And he wants more of you, too. And that will inevitably be painful. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)