Pastoral work acknowledges the difficulty and the pain of the quest and shares it.    

It does not attribute the agony of longing to a neurosis, it does not search for a cause in moral deficiency, it does not try to “cure” it by working for an adaptive adjustment to ‘reality.’ It honors the quest. The difficult painful moments of unfulfilled longing are integral to the nature of the relationships.   

It is not the pastor’s job to simplify the spiritual life, to devise common-denominator formulas, to smooth out the path of discipleship. Some difficulties are inherent in the way of spiritual growth —- to deny them, to minimize them, or to offer shortcuts is to divert the person from true growth. 

It is the pastors’ task, rather, to be companions to persons who are in the midst of difficulty, to acknowledge the difficulty and thereby give it significance, and to converse and pray with them through the time so that the loneliness is lightened, somewhat, and hope is maintained, somehow. 

The simplifiers, however well-intentioned they are, are the bane of good pastoral work. The spate of inspirational-testimonial religious writing that seems to find such a ready market in the Christian community is an instance of such well-intentioned simplification that results in alter complications. The stories are not honest. They are written under the direction of a market-oriented editor, not to tell the truth of Christian conversion and growth, but to tell the one part of the truth that will appeal to the element of spiritual sloth in every Christian that wants to skip the hard parts of discipleship. 

- from Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work by Eugene H. Perterson

“When times are good, be happy, but when times are bad, consider.”  - Eccl. 7:14

Bad times can be grouped in 3 categories.

1. When your (or loved one’s) health fails.
2. When your (or loved one’s) business fails.
3. When your (or loved one’s) relationship fails.

Whenever any of these 3 fail in our lives, it’s time for us to consider.  

When times are bad, God doesn’t tell us to be bitter or angry.  He doesn’t tell us to complain or blame others.  Nor does He tells us to lose hope & drown in despair.  

Instead, God tells us to consider.  

Consider what exactly?  

Consider that it is God who grants us both the good times and the bad times.  

(Yes, in the Bible, God takes full responsibility for both the good times and the bad times.  Both the sunshine and the rain.)  

And consider the lesson we can learn through the bad times.  

And if we, in our heart of hearts, decide to consider (instead of whining & complaining) God promises to grant us the patient endurance and wisdom to see the “blessing in disguise” in the bad times.  

To all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest discouragement is the time when divine help is nearest. They will look back with thankfulness upon the darkest part of their way. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly,” 2 Peter 2:9. From every temptation and every trial He will bring them forth with firmer faith and a richer experience. - DA 528

Whatever may be our situation, we have a Guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexities, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend. If in our ignorance we make missteps, Christ does not leave us. His voice, clear and distinct, is heard saying,”I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6.  - COL 171

The Christian life isn’t about a life that is free from pain and suffering.  

Rather, it’s a life full of pain & suffering with the wisdom to consider & transform the pain and suffering into God’s blessing in disguise.  

So, if you’re going to bad times, please consider & transform.