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Can God Teach Us In Our Hurt?
Paul, nearing the end of his life's journey, writes to Timothy with the finish line in sight. He has fought the good fight and labored in the work God gave him. The executioner's sentence has likely been given, and he wants to charge Timothy, his son in the faith, with guarding the good deposit entrusted to him as a church leader.
Paul's Final Instructions to Timothy
The Charge
Guard the good deposit. Walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Be faithful to Scripture, even when godlessness swirls around you.
Preach the Word
At the beginning of chapter four, verse two, Paul admonishes Timothy: preach the Word in season and out of season, as if you are in the presence of God himself. Be a man who lives the Word and teaches the Word.
Church Hurt: The Desertion of Demas
In verse nine, Paul tells Timothy to come quickly. Then comes a painful revelation: "Demas has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica, for he is in love with this present world." Notice the vulnerability—Paul doesn't say Demas merely forsook Gospel ministry. He says Demas deserted me. This is a particular sting, a deep wound from someone he expected to be there at the end.
The Pain of Abandonment
Words like abandoned, forsaken, betrayed, and deserted were familiar to Paul. The deepest wounds come from those closest to us.
A Ministry Companion Lost
Demas was mentioned in Philemon and Colossians as a fellow prisoner and ministry partner—making this betrayal cut even deeper.
Lesson One: Place No Ultimate Confidence in Man
Perhaps Demas tired of the chains, the hardship, or saw Paul's impending death as his cue to escape to comfort in Thessalonica. We don't know exactly why he left, only that he loved the temporal more than the eternal.
The lesson for us is clear: take no confidence ultimately in man. Ultimate confidence for the Christian is not found in the congregational seat beside you, but in Christ alone. Though pastors occupy the stage and have a high calling, we are also sheep in the church. We have no capacity to save—the best we can do is point your attention to Christ and say, He alone is worthy to place your entire life confidence in.
"If you spend enough time with me, you will see chinks and flaws. I am in the process of my own sanctification. No pastor is anyone's savior."
The Wrong Expectation Leads to Shipwreck
1
Wrong Expectation
Placing faith in church leadership or people instead of Christ
2
Inevitable Failure
People will disappoint because they are flawed and broken
3
Shipwrecked Faith
Disillusionment leads to abandoning God's people altogether
4
The Solution
Build your life on Christ, who never fails
In premarital counseling, we tell couples that the person sitting beside them, whom they love deeply, is not their savior. If you have the wrong expectation, you will be sorely disappointed. The same applies to church leadership. If their failure has shipwrecked you to the point of not participating in body life, is it possible you placed your faith in the wrong place?
Lesson Two: God Can Restore and Reconcile
Paul continues: "Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because Mark is very useful to me in ministry." This is remarkable because Mark, also known as John Mark, had previously abandoned Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey in Acts 13.
After leaving Cyprus where they faced opposition and saw little fruit, Mark deserted the team. When Paul and Barnabas later planned to revisit the churches, Barnabas wanted to bring Mark, but Paul thought it unwise. Their disagreement was so sharp that they split and went separate ways—Paul with Silas, Barnabas with Mark.
The Faithfulness of God in Division
Paul and Silas
Traveled strengthening churches, building up God's people across regions
Barnabas and Mark
Barnabas discipled and encouraged Mark, building him up in the faith
God's Sovereignty
The church was built up through both teams—God's hand was faithful even in division
Now, at the end of Paul's life, he calls for John Mark—once a source of hurt and division, now useful in ministry. We see God's faithfulness to mature, heal, and reconcile. What was Barnabas doing when he took Mark? Discipling and encouraging a man young in the faith, building him up to the point where Paul could say he is useful.
The Path to Reconciliation
Acknowledge the Hurt
Be honest about the pain and offense you've experienced
Lay It at God's Feet
Actively give the offense to God—you're not equipped to carry it
Choose Forgiveness
As you have been forgiven in Christ, so then you forgive
Open to Restoration
Reconciliation becomes possible when forgiveness is given
Reconciliation is impossible without forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn't mean things always go back to the way they were, but if there's going to be a chance for healing and restoration, it starts with forgiveness. This isn't a one-time deal—it's daily laying these hurts at God's feet, saying, "I need you to take this today and the next day and the next day."
The Lord Stood By Me
Paul's heart posture is revealed in the rest of chapter four. Alexander the coppersmith did him great harm, but Paul leaves it in God's hands: "The Lord will repay him." At his first defense, no one stood by him. But notice verse 17: "The Lord stood by me and the Lord strengthened me so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed."
Paul finishes with a doxological response: "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever."
He Stands With Us
When no one else stands with me, He will
He Strengthens Us
Not just present, but actively strengthening for the ministry at hand
He Rescues Us
He will rescue from every evil deed and bring us safely home
Build Your Life on Him
At 19 years old, a baby in the faith, I saw pastors fail morally multiple times. I saw church splits. I saw people I expected to be there, not be there. But here's what I want to leave you with: take stock of the character and the work of God.
What if instead of throwing up our hands when we experience brokenness in the church, we asked: What would God have to teach me about His character in these moments? About myself? So that the ministry platform I've been given is enhanced because I can say with greater confidence—in the highs and lows of my life, I have seen God's faithfulness, His sovereignty, His wisdom, His care, His comfort.
"Build your life on Him. Because where I fail and you fail, He does not. This momentary affliction won't always be. He will rescue you from every evil deed, and Christian, He's bringing you home."
To that God who is that faithful, to Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.