By Rev. Mark Creech
revmarkcreech.org
In recent years, my life has been marked by a series of trials that have left me questioning, “What is going on?” These challenges have come one after another in a way that sometimes feels overwhelming. In 2021, I came dangerously close to death during a severe battle with COVID-19. A few years later, in 2024, the Christian Action League, a ministry I spent 25 years sacrificially serving, was dissolved – an event that profoundly impacted my heart and ministry. And if that wasn’t enough, my marriage, a relationship I deeply cherished, is now in the throes of separation and is not likely to survive, leaving me to navigate the painful loss of a 45-year bond that I expected would last a lifetime.
In recent weeks, I found myself facing yet another major trial – a terrible fall at the North Carolina Legislature that left me with a severely broken shoulder, requiring major surgery and a significant recovery process. The weight of all these events has been crushing, and there are moments when I ask, “Why is all of this happening?” It might be easier to understand if everything hadn’t happened so close together, like an avalanche of suffering in such a short period. I’m sure many who’ve faced similar losses and difficulties have asked the same question.
Understanding Suffering: Is It Punishment?
One of the most challenging questions I’ve had to wrestle with is whether these trials are a form of corrective discipline from the Lord. Is there something within me that God seeks to bring to my attention? I can honestly say that I know of no sin in my life that could account for these afflictions, yet their sheer intensity and rapid-fire nature have had me wondering.
It’s important to note that not all suffering is punishment for sin. Some of the most faithful men and women of Scripture endured immense hardship, not because of their sin, but because they were being refined or tested. Job, whom God Himself declared blameless, suffered dreadfully. Yet, it wasn’t punishment; it was a divine process of refinement, and ultimately, Job’s suffering served a greater purpose, most importantly, the glory of God. The same could be said of the Lord Jesus, who endured the most significant suffering of all, not due to His own sin because He was sinless, but to fulfill God’s redemptive plan for the world.
I believe that in my life, and perhaps in yours too, the storms of life are not always meant to correct us, but to strengthen us, draw us closer to God, and mold us into vessels of greater use for His kingdom. As Paul wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). This is the hope we hold onto when the trials seem unrelenting.
Moreover, suffering works to make the believer more like Christ. As Paul also said, we are “predestined to be conformed to the image of his [God’s] Son” (Romans 8:29). Christ’s likeness includes His character, holiness, and even His sufferings. Jesus’ suffering refined and completed His role as the Savior (Hebrews 2:10), and in following Him, we share in that path of transformation.
Even though I know and wholeheartedly believe these truths, I must be brutally honest: they do little to anesthetize my hurt. One of the most profound books I’ve read on suffering is Hope When Life Unravels by Adam Dooley. In it, he writes,
“Awareness of a greater purpose behind suffering does not mitigate the realities of walking through it.”
That statement speaks volumes. Knowing that God has a purpose doesn’t erase the anguish of the journey. Dooley reminds us that recognizing God’s hand in our hardships isn’t the same as pretending the pain isn’t there, or that it’s not supposed to throb, sting, ache, and burn. Yes, Romans 8:28 assures us that God is working all things together for our good, but this doesn’t mean the source of our pains is good. The outcome may be redemptive, even glorious, but the road that leads there can be lined with injustices and unspeakable sorrows.
It’s important to say this: pain isn’t something we should try to plaster over with cheerful Christian clichés. It’s something we are meant to feel – deeply – and God meets us in that honest place of wrestling.
The Pain of Personal Loss: A Broken Marriage
Indeed, the most painful aspect of my recent trials has been the breakup of my marriage. I won’t pretend to understand all the dynamics that led to the breakdown of our relationship, nor do I believe it appropriate to share the details publicly. But I can say, without hesitation, it has been the most heart-wrenching experience of my life.
I’ve wrestled with an incredible irony: I’ve been credited with helping save the marriages of others, yet I was unable to save my own.
When you’ve poured your heart into a relationship, believing it would be a lifelong partnership, enduring until death, and then realizing that’s not going to happen, it leaves a wound that feels like it will never fully heal. There are no easy answers, tidy explanations, or ways to sidestep the grief accompanying such a loss.
And yet, even amid this awful pain, I’m reminded daily of God’s nearness. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
Though the collapse of a marriage is never what anyone hopes for or foresees, I trust that God will somehow redeem even this chapter of my life. In extreme sorrow, God continues to shape us, preparing us for the next assignment that His wise and benevolent sovereignty has planned.
Moreover, I am determined to love with greater fervor the One whose love never fails – the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Lesson in Trust: Holding Fast to God
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. There are days when the weight of it all feels too much to bear. But in the worst moments, I hear God’s whisper reminding me He is with me in the storm. It brings to mind Jesus’ words about the man who built his house upon a great rock. “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:25). Life’s storms have certainly come, but my hope is in the solid rock, Christ, who holds me fast when it seems everything about me is falling apart.
My circumstances have driven me deeper into God’s Word, prayer, and the embrace of a faithful community of believers who have ceaselessly encouraged me to press on. I am grateful for those who have lovingly reminded me that God has not left me nor revoked His calling on my life.
For Anyone Walking a Similar Path
If you’re reading this and facing personal, relational, financial, or health-related trials, I want you to know you are not alone – far from it. I am not writing to invite people to join me in some pity party. I want others to understand that I also know what it’s like to feel as though life is completely unraveling, perhaps doubting the goodness of God, and struggling with confusion. I want others to know that God is not aloof from their circumstances, and He is most definitely not their enemy. He is our hope. He is our comforter when we mourn. He is our refuge. And, ultimately, He is the One who makes everything right.
I encourage you to hold fast to Him. Lean into His Word and draw strength from His trustworthy character. Though the road may be long and arduous, rest assured that He is walking with you and will carry you through. Your suffering is not in vain. God is graciously working in the fiercest of storms; His light will guide your ship safely to harbor.
I am tenaciously holding onto these truths, taking matters one day at a time. Don’t despair; be patient if you are enduring a tremendous tempest – wait on God to complete the work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). Join me in holding on to Him who never disappoints those who trust Him implicitly.
May God bless you with His peace, presence, and purpose.