“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11, CSB)
By Marty Anderson
Dave (not his real name) was always a hard worker, someone inclined to get everything done quickly. Yet his go-go persona had a deeper negative side. Although I was his leader, I didn’t realize he’d been using alcohol excessively to cope.
On a solo work trip, he made some poor decisions which lead to intoxication, rental cars being left exposed, and appointments missed. His choices and actions led to his immediate termination. While I can assume it was a very scary time for him, I know that it was the worst day of my long career as a leader. How could this happen? Where did I fail? Was this my fault?
Guidance from a coworker who served as a leader in AA helped me appreciate the power addictions can have over a person. Yet, I was still concerned for Dave. Would he be able to find meaningful work again, overcome his addictions, and be a good husband and father?
Thankfully, a former colleague asked whether they should pursue Dave for a job. I encouraged them to meet with him and see where things went. Afterwards, I learned that Dave had confessed everything to them and he was seeking to turn things around in his life.
It has now been over 10 years later and Dave is thriving. He continues in his relationship with God and is an inspiration to others who want to turn their lives around. The moral of the story for me is the importance of being obedient even when it’s hard. God’s plans are always greater than any I can imagine. Even when the immediate outcome looks bleak, we may just be a blessing to the person we think we’re hurting.
Pray
Lord, help me to trust you and be obedient even when it hurts.
Reflect
Is there a person or situation where you need to take action and stop avoiding?
Discuss
Share a situation you are facing where you need to obey and ask others for prayer.
Marty Anderson lives in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his wife Cecilia and enjoys contributing to WorkLight publications.