The Alliance
  • Alliance Life
  • News
  • Video
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Ministries
  • Events
  • Resources
  • MyCMA
  • Give
  • Serve
  • Pray

Browse by:

  • Alliance Life
  • News
  • Video

In Joy and Pain—God Is in It

When you do something you believe the Lord has asked you to do, but it turns out poorly, do you question His leading?

By Marshall Mullinax, serving on the Alliance team in Israel

This past June, the reigning Israel Football League champions, the Judean Rebels, invited me to play against the Israel National Team. I prayed about it and sought godly counsel. With all green lights, I suited up for the first time in three years, and the first practice went well. The second practice was going well too, until I turned to sprint during a drill.

I heard a “pop” and felt a searing pain. The top of my foot went numb, and I couldn’t get up and walk.

After an initial misdiagnosis, I had an ultrasound two weeks later that showed I had a 2.2-centimeter tear in my Achilles. The tear exceeded 50 percent of the total tendon, so it was a full tear. The clinic referred me to a hospital, where they told me I needed immediate surgery. I hopped out of the hospital in a cast and expected surgery within two days.

Six days passed with no surgery scheduled. I went to the hospital once again and waited until I could consult with another orthopedic specialist. He had a different opinion, so I left the hospital in an AirCast and a nonsurgical protocol.

In August, fearing that I wasn’t progressing correctly, I had another ultrasound. It revealed that my Achilles has roughly 50 percent of its original thickness, which means I am far from healed.

Did I Hear Wrong?

When I was injured, one of my agnostic friends said to me, “Well, you’re always saying that you don’t play football unless you understand from God that you’re supposed to. Guess you heard wrong this time.”

post game lineup
Post game lineup of the Jerusalem Kings and the Tel Aviv Pioneers (2012)

It was a pointed statement, revealing a lot about how he perceives God.

In truth, though, isn’t his thought process one that many sincere Jesus followers may also adhere to?

If I were really doing what the Lord has called me to, wouldn’t this go better? we wonder.

As followers of Jesus, we need to be careful when our theology starts to match an agnostic’s theology.

Thankfully, when my friend asked me that question, I responded, in spite of my heavy disappointment, “No, I was convinced that this was part of what I should do now and that God was in it. So, whatever His plan is for me, it must include this.”

What Do I Do Now?

My life has changed significantly: no running, no sports, and spending a significant amount of time learning to walk again as I test my pain tolerance with physiotherapy. But some other things have changed too.

Rather than spending a lot of time wondering, Why?, I’ve been trying to ask other questions: “What is the lesson I need to learn? Are there things I can see now that I didn’t before?”

That meager shift—being open to a lesson rather than looking for an explanation—honors my Savior. During this time, my heart has been challenged by some things I had never noticed before, as I walked among the people here in Israel. What will God do with that? I don’t know. But I do know I can trust Him.

  • Previous
  • Next

Give Today

When you give to the Great Commission Fund, you help to equip more than 700 international workers, including the Alliance team in Israel, to bring the gospel to some of the most spiritually desolate regions of our world. Consider a gift today!

  • $50
  • $75
  • Other

Related Stories

  • Holiday in the Holy Land December 3, 2016
  • God in the Hussein Neighborhood October 25, 2016
  • What Is Christmas Like in Jerusalem?
  • Celebrating 125 Years in the Holy Land May 13, 2016
  • Giving Thanks November 21, 2014
  • U.S. Alliance Pastor Baptizes New Believers in the Jordan River June 15, 2011
  • Beyond the Blame August 11, 2006
  • Taking a Christ-Stand July 28, 2006

Give by Mail

Make check payable to the C&MA and mail to:
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
Office of Donor Accounting
8595 Explorer Drive
Colorado Springs, CO
80920
Memo: Great Commission Fund

Give by Phone

Use your credit card and call toll-free (866) 443-8262 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (MST) to make your donation.

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet

Get Involved...

Pray.

We cannot “Live the Call Together” unless prayer is central to all we do.
Pray with us »

Serve.

Is God calling you to service? We’re here to help you connect your passion with God’s purpose.
Serve with The Alliance »

Give.

Help build Christ’s Church by supporting the ministry and workers of The Alliance.
Give today »


Get Connected

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • MyCMA
  • Locate a Church
  • Locate an International Worker
  • Daily Devotionals
  • Employment
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • MyCMA

Our Web site uses cookies to streamline site navigation and provide a better online experience for you. Your continued use of www.cmalliance.org indicates your agreement to accept cookies from this site. ©2003-2022 The Christian and Missionary Alliance-All rights reserved. Some material used by permission.