This Is Going to Hurt

For those of us in the body of Christ, these days are challenging at the least. Recently, two women known the world over for ministering to the hurting and broken have now publicly revealed their own struggles and brokenness. Due to the public nature of their expanding ministries, it is nearly impossible for their problems to remain private.

Because of our association with both ladies, and their past contributions to SpiritLed Woman, I felt it necessary to at least attempt to help with the healing process. Both Juanita Bynum and Paula White have graced our pages. Their writings have been a source of wisdom and hope for so many of our readers.

In both cases, they were probably floundering for a long time. The sad collapse of their relationships did not come about overnight. But despite the fact that their personal lives were unraveling, Bynum and White continued to produce countless volumes of books, tapes and products for an ever-widening audience. They were more visible than ever and seemingly “at the top of their game.” But appearances aren’t everything. Although some things were working great, other things were not working at all.

We’ve been through too many of these situations before, and we should know better, but we are still trying to understand why/how these things happened. We wonder why no one was able to intervene.

We feel such pity for both of these women. We hurt for them because we know they must have been hurting for a long time. I would imagine that the humiliation and brokenness each of them is feeling right now must be enormous.

Whereas, we grieve for our leaders, we also grieve for the cause of Christ and for the lost—those who were so close to the kingdom, who now, rightly or wrongly, have a fresh obstacle in the way. And, although we know it is not a legitimate excuse, there will still be the questions and the confusion with which we will have to contend in the weeks, months, even years ahead.

Yes this is painful. We all feel it, and we all need healing as a result. Of course, our hope is in Christ. The answer is prayer.

Pray for authentic spiritual restoration. Pray for time away from the demands where nothing except seeking God is the order of the day. Pray for the will of God to triumph over the plan of the enemy in their lives.

Pray for a spirit of humility and sensitivity to the Spirit that allows them to seek out and submit to wise counsel. Ask God to keep them from attempting to exploit all the secular media attention they have received for personal gain. And, ask God to keep at bay those who do not speak for Him, who would counsel Bynum or White according to any personal agendas that were not God’s will.

I’m sure many of you were followers and supporters of these two ministers, perhaps members of their congregations. I would encourage you to allow them to be restored in God’s time and in God’s way. Pray for them, and take your grief and any anger you may have to the Lord. Process your confusion and disappointment in His presence.

Ask the Lord to purify your emotions and deal with the root of your disappointment and anger. And, ask Him to clarify your motivations regarding financial support you may have given, which you may be questioning today. If you gave of what you had to the work of the Lord, you will suffer no loss.

We know there is no one righteous except the Lord Jesus. He is the only perfect one.

We know that, yet we can still make the mistake of placing all our hopes in individuals, whose subsequent failures make us question God and ourselves.

Jesus can be trusted to never, ever change. He is no less Lord today than He was before, and His ability to keep you is still intact.

To read “When Leaders Fail You” by Shirley Arnold (SpiritLed Woman, Oct/Nov 2001), click here.

Brenda J. Davis, Editor of SpiritLed Woman