About a month ago at one of my book signings at a local Barnes and Noble,  I found a copy of C.S. Lewis’ classic work, The Problem of Pain. I had always wanted to read this, so I bought it and set it aside in my study for a future day.

Then just a few weeks ago I began to experience what I can only describe as the worse pain of my life.  Constant, unrelenting pain down the back of my neck and into my arm.  An MRI revealed a large ruptured disc at the level of my fifth cervical vertebrae, compressing my spinal cord.  What was most significant about this however was how it suddenly appeared during the specific week that I needed to be preparing for our annual men’s conference.

That’s when I saw the book lying there, The Problem of Pain.  ‘How apropos’, I thought, ‘this pain is a problem’. Now, I know, that is not what Lewis was referring to as he brilliantly asked the hard questions of why God would allow suffering in a world that he created, but my ‘problem’ was how this pain was keeping me from doing what he had called me to.

Now, I’ve got to be honest here.  This ‘problem’ did not just appear out of nowhere.  It is likely a result of years of punishing my body.  Yet it was the timing that was most suspect.  ‘Why now?  Why here/?’  And I knew the answer.  It’s the same every time I take another step toward the life that my King has called me to.  The enemy howls, trying his hardest to intimidate.  In the past it has included attacks on my children, my wife, my business, ministry, church and even my dog (who mysteriously turned up dead while I was away at one such event).

But here’s the cool thing. I love how God takes even the junk that Satan throws at us to cause us to deny his name, and redeems it for our good.  It was only in this place that I had the opportunity to receive from others, to refine my faith in the God who promised he would never leave me or forsake me, and to, even if just for a short moment, experience the truth of Paul’s words: that in my weakness, he is strong.

I’m glad the pain has lifted some, yet for me, the pain has not only been a problem, but also a solution, a solution to the question of ‘is my God enough?’  He has answered with a resounding YES.


To the King,

David