Enduring Pain and Hardships

Kevin Burrell on May 6, 2026

 

“We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.” 

2 Thessalonians 1:4

 

ENDURING PAIN AND HARDSHIPS

There is something deeply human about pain. We spend much of our lives trying to avoid it, ignore it, numb it, or make sense of it. To understand this, consider the rare birth condition known as “congenital insensitivity to pain” (CIP).

Approximately 1 in 125 million newborns are born with CIP and cannot feel physical pain. At first glance, this might seem like a blessing: no discomfort, no agony, no distress. However, in reality, it is incredibly dangerous. Pain is the body’s warning system. Without it, injuries go unnoticed, infections spread, and harm multiplies silently. What appears to be freedom from pain is actually vulnerability to greater damage.

In a similar way, spiritual and emotional pain in our lives serves a purpose. It alerts us, shapes us, and is designed to draw us closer to God. Without it, we might drift, unaware of deeper issues within us and our need for God’s presence in our lives.

The Apostle Paul echoes this truth in 2 Thessalonians 1:4:

“We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.”

Don’t miss that.

Notice what is being celebrated: not comfort, but endurance; not ease, but faithfulness. Pain has a way of sharpening our awareness of God’s voice. In seasons of comfort, it is easy for us to become self-reliant. But in pain and hardship, we listen more closely. We pray more earnestly. We depend more fully. The days of pain often become the days of deepest intimacy with God.

Listen closely: I don’t know what pain or hardship you are enduring today. Maybe the sudden loss of a parent, spouse, child, or job. Maybe a divorce, a terminal disease, a wayward child, or a broken relationship.

Ignoring God during suffering is like ignoring pain in the body; it leads to deeper harm. However, leaning in, listening, and trusting God in the midst of your pain transforms suffering into something meaningful. It becomes a place where faith is refined, character is strengthened, and Christ is made known in you and through you.

When pain comes, and it will, whether through hardship, loss, or persecution, do not rush to silence it. Let it speak. Let it lead you to intimacy with God. Listen carefully in those moments, because God often speaks most clearly in the valleys.

C. S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pain.”

Pain is not the absence of God. Most often, it is the very place where His presence becomes most real.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Be Worth Being.

Kevin

 

Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 45 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper – Wisdom from Old Commentaries

Avatar photo Chris Boggess on May 6, 2026

 

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:27-36 (ESV)


WISDOM FROM OLD COMMENTARIES

When I get ready to write the Digging Deeper for the week, I like to pull out my old books, especially some of the commentaries in my library. Some of my favorite resources are H. A. Ironside’s commentaries.

Why are commentaries written in the 1940s high on my list? It is for sentimental reasons. These are hand-me-downs from my grandmother. She faithfully taught her Sunday School class for many years at Bible Center Church, and I know these commentaries were a ready resource for her. I love it when I go to read a passage and come across her underlines and margin notes. As I turn to “Address 21” in the commentary on Luke, I find a lot of marking, and I want to share some great wisdom with you.

First, on page 201, there is this quote underlined in red: “To obey these precepts is to manifest the spirit of Christ. This is love in activity. It was fully displayed in our blessed Lord, who laid down His life for those who were His enemies and hated Him without cause.” Ironside wants us to understand that there is activity in love. Love doesn’t just talk a good game; it acts on behalf of the one who is loved. I once heard a sermon by Martin Luther King Jr. in which he said that the difference between “like” and “love” is that “like” is sentimental and “love” is active; we don’t need to “like” someone to love them. Loving our enemies means we are acting more like Jesus.

Another amazing quote from the commentary is: “When someone has been very unkind, instead of meeting him in the same way, get down on your knees and plead for his blessing, and when the Spirit of God speaks to him, his attitude will change… Go alone into the presence of God and ask Him to speak to those hearts in divine love.” Praying for those who are against us is not easy. We must love with intentionality. People we love may come to mind throughout the day, and it is a blessing to lift them up in prayer. But praying for people we would rather not think about at all is something else. Loving our enemies means intentionally praying for them.

Finally, there is this gem: “The Lord ridicules those who pretend to be the children of God when they have not reached any higher, so far as practical behavior goes, than those who make no profession at all.” God expects more from us. I like the way the commentator phrases the statement: “The Lord ridicules.” Jesus is pointing out that it would not make sense for followers of God to act like the rest of humanity. The first five books of the Bible focus on God setting His people apart so they will look different from the world around them. So the Jews hearing the comparison phrase, “For even sinners love those who love them,” would understand that they had a responsibility, as the children of the Most High God, to be set apart like priests are set apart: “And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.” This is the message you must give to the people of Israel (Exodus 19:6, NLT). And Peter applies this same standard to us as a church: “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9, NLT).

Priests show who God is to the people. They live their lives to a higher standard. Take a moment to evaluate yourself and your actions. Do you live a life that looks like everyone else, or do you live a life that puts God on display? What can you do today to point people around you to God by how you live your life?

  • Quotes from Addresses on the Gospel of Luke by H. A. Ironside, Litt.D. Published by Loizeaux Brothers, New York, 1947.

 

Chris Boggess is the Care + Family Pastor at NorthStar Church. He grew up in St. Albans, West Virginia, and still cheers for the Mountaineers. He and his wife, Heather, have two grown children and one granddaughter.

Digging Deeper – The Pittsburgh Experiment

Avatar photo Chris Boggess on May 5, 2026

 

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 

Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)


THE PITTSBURGH EXPERIMENT

Don James was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a hard man—not just a Marine, but a former drill instructor. He was known to say that if he couldn’t “eat it, drink it, or sleep with it,” he didn’t need it.

Sam Shoemaker was a force for faith in Pittsburgh. His vision was that Pittsburgh would become “as famous for God as it was for steel.” Sam was one of the originators of the Twelve Steps used in Alcoholics Anonymous and had a heart for people who were far from God to be brought near.

Sam started arranging weekly lunches with groups of local business leaders to encourage them to pray for the city and become spiritual leaders. This group became what Sam called the Pittsburgh Experiment. The men would meet together, and Sam would encourage them to name their biggest enemy and pray for that person every day for 30 days.

Don heard Sam’s message and told him he thought it was a load of excrement (my words). Don explained that his biggest enemy was his boss, and he hated the guy. Don said that whoever came up with the idea of praying for your enemy must be out of their mind. Sam encouraged him to give it a try and let him know how it turned out.

Don gave it a try.

He prayed that God would work in his boss’s life and bless him. As the month went on, Don’s boss began to see a difference in him. Don was changing. Don ended up coming to Jesus through this experience.

Coming to Jesus was just the first step. Don went to seminary and became an ordained Episcopal priest. He began to work alongside Sam to fulfill the vision of making Pittsburgh a city known for faith in God. When Sam died, Don took up the reins to continue the Pittsburgh Experiment, leading hundreds of men to pray for the city. And when Don died, a choir of priests from all over the diocese sang at his funeral.

When we pray for God to bless and change our enemies, I believe He begins to bless and change us at the same time.

Who is your enemy right now? Do your own Pittsburgh Experiment and set aside time each day to pray exclusively for that person. Do it for thirty days and see what happens.

Chris Boggess is the Care + Family Pastor at NorthStar Church. He grew up in St. Albans, West Virginia, and still cheers for the Mountaineers. He and his wife, Heather, have two grown children and one granddaughter.

Digging Deeper – A Radical Statement

Avatar photo Chris Boggess on May 4, 2026

 

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:27-36 (ESV)


A RADICAL STATEMENT

I think we often read the phrase “love your enemies,” and the words feel familiar. We have heard this before. This love is a common theme with Jesus and throughout the New Testament. We hear it, and we think of our enemies as people opposed to us ideologically or socially. But if we lived in the first century, when Roman-occupied Judea was under oppression, we might not hear this in the same way.

The Jewish community hearing this address was under Roman rule and at the tip of the Roman sword. The enemies of the Jews did not make social media posts; they crucified. “Love your enemies” is a radical statement! More than radical, it would have been an outrageous statement in the world in which Jesus was preaching.

Another aspect of the statement “love your enemy” is that it was something new, not taught by any religious leader before. Others had taught their followers not to harm their enemies or to refrain from fighting back against them, but the idea of loving your enemy seems to originate with Jesus.

Even though it is not explicitly stated before Jesus, God had been telling His people how to act toward their enemies from the beginning of their relationship. “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him” (Exodus 23:4–5, ESV). The writer of Proverbs also addresses how to treat an enemy: “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away His anger from him” (Proverbs 24:17–18).

But Jesus wants His listeners to understand the heart of God explicitly toward people created in His image, even enemies. Not just to do no harm or even to do good to them, but to love them.

Love the ones who strike you.
Love the ones who oppress you.
Love the ones who cheat you.
Love the ones you do not even like.

And why should we love them and not pour out our wrath on them? Because Jesus wants us to act like the Father. God is “kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” Take some time today to make your list of enemies. But remember, you are not making a “hit list”; you are making a “love list.”

 

Chris Boggess is the Care + Family Pastor at NorthStar Church. He grew up in St. Albans, West Virginia, and still cheers for the Mountaineers. He and his wife, Heather, have two grown children and one granddaughter.

Digging Deeper: Upside-Down Living Leads to True Joy

Avatar photo Larry Grays on May 1, 2026

 

“When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.”

Luke 6:23 (NLT)


UPSIDE-DOWN LIVING LEADS TO TRUE JOY

 

A pastor once joked that he tried eating healthy for a week, but then someone brought donuts to church. He said, “I realized my joy is not in vegetables; it’s in frosting.” Everyone laughed, but it made a point: we often choose what feels good now instead of what’s truly good.

Jesus flips that thinking upside down. In Luke 6:22–23, He describes people being rejected, mocked, and excluded for following Him. Then He says something surprising: “Be happy… leap for joy.” Why would anyone respond that way? Because their reward isn’t based on what’s happening now; it’s based on what’s coming later.

Jesus is teaching us to live with eternity in view. When we understand that God sees, rewards, and restores, it changes how we respond to hardship. The world says happiness comes from comfort and approval. Jesus says it comes from faithfulness and trust. And when we live that way, we experience a kind of joy that circumstances can’t take away.

Reflection Questions

  • Are you living more for the present or for eternity?
  • What would it look like to trust God’s reward over immediate comfort?

Suggested Prayer
Lord, help me live for what lasts. Give me joy that is rooted in You, not in my circumstances.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

Digging Deeper: Happiness is Found in Who I Follow

Avatar photo Larry Grays on April 30, 2026

 

“God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.”

Luke 6:21 (NLT)


HAPPINESS IS FOUND IN WHO I FOLLOW

 

There was a man standing before a judge in California for shooting a Condor. This a protected bird and people who kill them must pay the consequences. The man pleaded with the judge by saying, “I just arrived in this state, and I have never seen a bird that large before. I was hungry and could not help myself to shoot and eat it. The judge said, “I forgive you, just don’t let it happen again!” The man replied,” Yes, sir!” The judge curious about the bird asked the man how did it taste? The man replied, “Oh, I guess somewhere between a Whooping Crane and a spotted owl.”

When Jesus talks about being “hungry,” He’s describing a deep longing, not just for food, but for what is right and good in God’s eyes. This kind of hunger is a sign of spiritual life. When someone is physically hungry, it drives them to seek food. In the same way, spiritual hunger drives us toward God. It creates a desire for His truth, His presence, and His ways. Jesus promises something powerful: “you will be satisfied.” That doesn’t mean life becomes easy. It means our deepest needs are met in Him. Even in difficult circumstances, there is a steady sense of fulfillment that comes from walking with Christ.

Jesus also talks about weeping and rejection. These aren’t random hardships, they often come as a result of following Him. But they don’t cancel happiness, they deepen it. True happiness is not about avoiding difficulty. It’s about being anchored to Jesus in the middle of it.

Reflection Questions

  • What are you truly hungry for right now?
  • How can you pursue God more intentionally this week?

Suggested Prayer
Jesus, give me a deeper hunger for You. Help me find satisfaction in following You.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

God’s Calling on Your Life

Kevin Burrell on April 29, 2026

 

“I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5

 

GOD’S CALLING ON YOUR LIFE

Recently, I had a conversation with a D1 college head baseball coach. He made an interesting statement. He said, “I am a follower of Christ. I am a believer, but I am not equipped and feel inadequate about my spiritual calling and purpose as a coach where God has planted me.”

Quite honestly, I sense that this is the experience of many who are in the same position as this head coach.

In Jeremiah 1:5, this powerful declaration from God to the young prophet Jeremiah reveals God’s sovereign purpose over our lives. Even before Jeremiah existed, God had already decided his identity and calling.

The verse divides into three clear sections, each building on the previous one, and shows the depth of God’s intentional plan for Jeremiah’s life—and your life as well.

• “I chose you before I formed you in the womb.”

You are not an accident. Before your parents met, before your first heartbeat, before any of your successes or failures, God already chose you. This brings deep security: your worth is not earned but given. When you feel unseen or unqualified, untrained or inadequate, remember that God’s choice of you happened in eternity past, before the foundation of the world.

Q: Where in your life are you still trying to “earn” God’s love instead of resting in the fact that He already chose you?

• “I set you apart before you were born.”

Being “set apart” means you are called to be different, not for your own glory, but for God’s. It can feel uncomfortable (Jeremiah certainly felt inadequate), but it protects you and equips you for what God has prepared. It is God’s responsibility to see it through. He consecrated you. He sanctified you. He set you apart. Therefore, He will see it through. In a world that pressures us to blend in, this is a reminder that your distinctiveness is a gift, not a burden.

Q: What areas of your life does God want you to live as “set apart” right now—perhaps in your time, relationships, speech, career, or ambitions?

• “I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

God’s calling on your life is bigger than your comfort zone. You may not be a prophet, but God has appointed you for a purpose, whether as a coach, scout, parent, friend, or disciple-making leader. Your assignment flows out of your identity (chosen and set apart). Even when the task feels too big, the same God who appointed you will empower you.

Q: What specific “appointment” or role is God calling you into right now? Are you resisting it because of fear, like Jeremiah did initially?

Listen closely: God is speaking directly to you through Jeremiah 1:5. Before you took your first breath, God looked at your life and made three unshakable declarations:

He chose you.
He set you apart.
He appointed you.

Let that sink deep inside your soul.

Stop living like you have to earn a place in God’s heart. You were marked as His before you were born. You have a specific purpose and assignment on this earth. It is bigger than your comfort, your fears, and your excuses. The same God who called Jeremiah to speak to nations is the same God who is calling you to your own mission, right where He has planted you.

Now rise up and walk in it. The God who formed you is with you. The God who called you will equip you. The question is no longer “Are you enough?” but “Will you trust and obey the One who is?”

You were chosen for such a time as this. Go live like it.

 

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Be Worth Being.

Kevin

 

Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 45 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper: Happiness is not Found in What I Accomplish

Avatar photo Larry Grays on April 29, 2026

 

“What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds…”

Luke 6:26 (NLT)


HAPPINESS IS NOT FOUND IN WHAT I ACCOMPLISH

 

A guy once posted a picture online and kept checking his phone every few minutes for likes. After a while, he said, “Maybe people just haven’t seen it yet.” His friend replied, “Or maybe your value isn’t measured in likes.” It’s funny, but it hits close to home for some of us.

Jesus addresses this in verse 26. Being praised by others feels good, but it’s not a solid foundation for life. In fact, Jesus points out that even false prophets were praised. In other words, approval doesn’t equal truth. The problem with living for applause is that it never lasts. If your identity is built on what people think, it will constantly rise and fall.

Jesus is showing us that accomplishment and recognition cannot sustain real happiness. They’re temporary and fragile. At NorthStar, we talk about finding our identity in Christ, not in performance. That’s exactly what Jesus is calling us to here.

Reflection Questions

  • How much does approval from others shape your decisions?
  • Where can you root your identity more firmly in Christ?

Suggested Prayer
Lord, free me from needing approval. Help me find my identity in You.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

Digging Deeper: Happiness is not Found in What I Accumulate

Avatar photo Larry Grays on April 28, 2026

 

“What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.”

Luke 6:24 (NLT)


HAPPINESS IS NOT FOUND IN WHAT I ACCUMULATE

 

There have been many documented cases of lottery winners who thought they had found the dream life, only to discover the opposite. One well-known story involved a man who won millions, upgraded everything in his life, and left his job. But within a few years, he described feeling more anxious, more isolated, and less fulfilled than before. What he gained externally didn’t fix what was missing internally.

Jesus warns about that exact danger. In Luke 6:24–25, He isn’t saying money is evil. He’s saying it can become a substitute for God. The phrase “you have your only happiness now” reveals the issue: if what we have is enough for us, we stop looking to God.

That’s the danger of comfort. It can quietly convince us we don’t need anything more. But real life isn’t built on what we accumulate; it’s built on what we trust. Jesus is inviting us to see that possessions can never satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.

Reflection Questions

  • What are you relying on for security right now?
  • How can you shift your trust back to God?

Suggested Prayer
Father, help me not to depend on what I have. Teach me to trust You fully.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

Digging Deeper: Happiness Redefined

Avatar photo Larry Grays on April 27, 2026

 

“God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.”

Luke 6:20 (NLT)


HAPPINESS REDEFINED

 

A man once bought a “simple” desk that required assembly and decided he didn’t need the instructions. Two hours later, he had leftover screws, a crooked frame, and a drawer that only opened halfway. He finally admitted, “Maybe the designer knew what he was doing.”

That’s exactly what Jesus is doing in Luke 6: correcting how we think life works. When Jesus says, “God blesses you,” He’s talking about a deep, lasting kind of happiness, not just a good mood or a comfortable life. And when He says, “the poor,” He’s not praising poverty itself. He’s pointing to people who recognize their need for God.

That’s the key: true happiness begins with dependence on God. The crowd expected Jesus to talk about improving their situation. Instead, He points to their heart. The issue isn’t what we have; it’s whether we realize we need Him. Real life change starts from the inside out. That’s exactly what Jesus is teaching here.

Reflection Questions

  • How have you been defining happiness lately?
  • Where do you need to depend more on God?

Suggested Prayer
Lord, help me stop chasing shallow happiness. Teach me to find real joy in You.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.