Don't Go Through Life's Pain and Suffering Alone
- RD Montgomery
- Jul 12, 2024
- 5 min read
Over the last several weeks, I have covered portions of the Gridiron Men Christian Conference that I attended in June. Last week, I covered Dr. James Merritt’s sermon in more detail. This week, I will wrap up night one and recap the messages of Coach Joe Jackson Gibbs and Greg Laurie.
Coach Joe Jackson Gibbs replaced George Foreman, who had fallen ill and was not cleared to travel. Coach Joe Gibbs is notable in both football and NASCAR. Coach Gibbs is the only member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. I am not completely immune to being dazzled by that, but after hearing about his journey of time investment of long hours, loss of family time, and sleeping in the office, I believe it was a hard road.
This segment was an interview between Phil Waldrep and Coach Gibbs. He discussed his time as an NFL coach and how meaningful it was to have Williams as a starting quarterback and win the Super Bowl.
“I think that it's just when you study God's word. And you see the way he made us. There is no way in this world that anybody is better than somebody else. You may have more money or whatever it is, but each one of us is a treasured soul that God made…. Don't people see that?” -Coach Gibbs about diversity.
He also talked about his transition to NASCAR. It was interesting and probably would have been more interesting if I had followed any racing, but I find it boring. I acknowledge the skill of both the driver and the crew supporting them, but as a spectator, that only gets me so far. I can never hope to see a crash, so for me, it is watching people drive in circles.
He then spoke about the grief of losing two sons. He said he spent 18 months seeking answers to his questions about grief through Bible study and visiting with minister friends. He finally understood Romans 8:16-18 that suffering is a part of this life but leads to glory. This is an example of being steadfast. God wants us to question so He can teach us, but it won’t always be as simple as a Google search. Sometimes, we have to be tenacious and keep after Him. That is not because God is being cruel and withholding; it is because God knows the answers we work for are the ones we will not need to ask again.
Coach's grief was handled a little differently than you will see later from Greg Laurie. Coach leaned on the Christian community, including his daughter-in-law, Melissa, who helped him overcome his regrets by missing chunks of his kid's life. She reminded him that he may not have been perfect, but God worked through him, which has helped his entire family come to have a relationship with Christ.
He wrapped things up by talking about the ministry God gave him called Game Plan For Life, https://www.gameplanforlife.com/. This ministry helps men live according to God's purpose and plan. A large part of the focus is prison ministry. It was amazing to hear how God has been transforming the lives of prisoners, and everyone is taking notice.
If you ever get a chance to hear him speak, you should!
Finishing night one was Greg Laurie, a prolific author and worldwide evangelist who shared part of his story in the movie The Jesus Revolution. He talked about the film, but I had not seen it then, so some of it was lost on me.
When he veered away from the movie, things got interesting. He said that his mother went through 7 marriages and divorces and had boyfriends in between. The film portrayed her as an alcoholic. Greg says she was a very beautiful woman. She was also very broken and, like now, some men can sense brokenness and vulnerability. Unfortunately, the type of men that can sniff them out are not the ones you want in your home. Out of the 7, Greg says one was decent; his name was Oscar, an attorney who even adopted Greg. However, his mother left him, which ended that marriage too.
As a slight aside, you might wonder why she would leave a man with a good job who treated her and her son well. I can’t say for sure, but in my experience, a broken woman has difficulty being treated well. They like it initially, but it makes them uncomfortable, and they bolt. Satan’s agenda is to kill, steal, and destroy through lies, accusations, and deception. If someone believes they are worthless, someone treating them well feels like lying. Greg and his mother flew to Hawaii where she rebounded into a new relationship with a boyfriend who was physically abusive.
Greg had a lot to overcome and there was no way he would do it on his own. He looked for his answers in drugs, parties, and sex. They all distracted him from the Truth instead of giving it to him. Fortunately, God had a plan, and Greg was rescued.
Years after Greg’s conversion and the start of his ministry, Greg reunited with his adopted father, Oscar. He contacted him when he visited New York and was convinced to stay with them. At dinner, Barbara, Oscar’s new wife, asked Greg about his testimony. He said that Oscar just watched and listened. The next morning, while walking and talking in a park, Oscar was ready and suddenly down on his knees, accepting Christ. Oscar assumed accepting Christ meant his heart, the reason he began walking and watching his diet, was healed from severe illness; later, a doctor confirmed it. Miracles do happen!
Greg went on to share his story of losing a son. He said when people were over at his house trying to comfort them, he could not take it and retreated to his office. He said the air had been sucked out of his lungs as he began to pray, and then Jesus came to comfort him. His quote:
“Someone asked me a while ago. What is the moment of your life when you sense the presence of God more than any other moment. And I had to think, was it the day I accepted Christ? That was an important day, but I wouldn't say that was the day. Was that the day I was baptized? That was a big day for me. But no, maybe that wasn't it. Was it the day that I married Kathy, as wonderful as that day was? I remember it, like yesterday. No, that wasn't the day then. I thought the day I sensed the. The Presence of God, more than any other day, was the day when I heard the worst news imaginable, and Jesus Christ was with me in that room.”
Men are not usually known for opening up, but both men talked about their heartache of losing Christian children, and both men grew from the experience. They both know their hope is in Christ and will see their kids again. God picked them up, sustained them, and helped them grow. Everyone on this planet will experience pain and suffering, but good can come from it for those who put their hope in Christ.
Please don't go through life's pain and suffering alone. God cares about you and wants to help you directly and through the community we call church.
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