Finding the Good in the Bad

I never imagined a simple misstep could lead to one of the most profound spiritual lessons of my life.

            At the beginning of the year, a sudden hip injury—the worst I had ever experienced—brought everything in my life to an abrupt halt. Up until that moment, fitness wasn’t just my passion; it was my identity. It defined how I managed stress, expressed myself, and even found joy. But this injury forced me to stop and reevaluate everything.

            My life shifted from a routine filled with physical activity and constant movement to surgery, pain, and a challenging recovery. Post-surgery, I found myself confined to the second floor of my home, 50% weight-bearing for two weeks, reliant on my incredible wife who balanced everything downstairs while caring for me and my kids. It was during this time of forced stillness and discomfort that I truly began to listen—not just to my body, but to God.

            The realization hit me deeply: we often go to great lengths to shield ourselves and our kids from discomfort, unknowingly limiting our growth. As parents, we quickly intervene to spare our children from any inconvenience, disappointment, or pain, yet by doing so, we might be robbing them—and ourselves—of essential lessons.

            Recent studies suggest that children today face unprecedented levels of anxiety and burnout partly because they’re not allowed to experience the necessary discomforts of failure or boredom (Gray, 2013). Similarly, adults avoid situations that push us out of comfort zones, missing valuable opportunities for spiritual, emotional, and relational growth.

            In physical therapy, as I struggled to pedal a simple stationary bike, my physical limitations sharply reminded me of vulnerability’s necessity. Reflecting on the story of Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:24-32), I recognized my injury as a divine invitation—a painful but necessary experience. Jacob’s limp was a lasting reminder of his profound meeting with God. My injury, too, serves as a constant reminder of an intimate encounter with God, teaching me valuable lessons about perseverance, humility, and the spiritual significance of discomfort.

            As adults and parents, we occupy a unique position where our experiences and wisdom allow us to teach our children how to navigate life’s discomforts, losses, and challenges. It’s not only our duty to step back and let our children experience these things but also our responsibility to actively seek out our own challenges. When our children watch us pursuing difficult goals and overcoming our own hardships, we exemplify the life Jesus calls us to live—a life of growth, perseverance, and spiritual maturity.

            My injury, initially devastating, ultimately became God’s instrument for personal growth, an enduring lesson in embracing discomfort, and a profound example for my family on how to live courageously, humbly, and faithfully. I challenge anyone reading this: join me in setting the example for our children, demonstrating the benefit of choosing to tackle something difficult, even seemingly impossible, and overcoming it. I’ll be sharing more ideas here about how to grow as a father, family, mentor, and leader—setting the next generation up right, with God at the center, unafraid to face any challenge. 

References

Gray, P. (2013). Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children

Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life. Basic Books.