Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
Think back to some of the hard times you’ve been through. Do those times conjure up fond memories and a longing to return to yesteryear? Of course not! Most people do their best to forget these moments as quickly as possible, but a mature leader recognizes the value of the suffering they’ve endured. Join us for today’s episode as we discuss how your most painful moments have the potential to be your biggest opportunities for growth.
[0:00] Introduction
[0:16] During this episode you might be saying, “I don’t want to go there!”
[2:03] Growth comes from switching from, “How do I get out of this?” to “What can I get out of this?”
[3:08] Why do we avoid that painful lessons that could help us grow?
[4:53] Greg shares about a learning experience from his football career.
[6:13] My rough season led to a book called When Sheep Bite.
[8:15] We have to practice learning in difficult seasons.
[10:00] Pain can show us what needs to be changed to realize growth opportunities.
[13:02] Greg asks me what is one thing that held me back from learning from adversity.
[14:55] Greg shares what held him back earlier in his leadership journey.
[16:52] I have learned an important first response in difficult times.
[18:53] Sometimes we need an outside mentor to help us see where we’re struggling.
[22:00] “Your hardest times often lead to some of your greatest moments.”
Everyone faces tough times, but leaders who encounter these difficult times have the opportunity to help their teams thrive or fall during this time. John Maxwell shares the challenges leader face in these situations, and how they can overcome them and help successfully bring others along as well. Check out my full book review of Leading in Tough Times.
“Good leaders understand that adversity and challenges are actually opportunities to rise up in leadership.
Adversity introduces us to ourselves
Adversity is a better teacher than success
Adversity opens doors for new opportunities
Adversity writes our story if our response is right”
“How do people overcome problems, challenges, and difficulties? They make changes. Improvement requires change. Innovation requires change. Seizing opportunities requires change. … As a leader in tough times, you need to become a change agent. You need to help others embrace positive change, even when it takes them outside their comfort zone. You need to help them get results, even when they worry that it might not be possible.”
“There is no downside to adding value to people. Yes, it will cost you time and effort. But when you add value to people, you help them and make them more valuable.”
“If you lead people who are falling short of their potential, you need to start asking why. Have you put them in their strength zones? Are you providing the training and resources they need to be successful? Is there something they need that you’re not giving? You always need to make sure you are not the problem before you look to see where the problem is.”
“If you are a leader, the true measure of your success is not getting people to work. It’s not getting people to work hard. It is getting people to work hard together.”
“In times of difficulty, relationships are a shelter. In terms of opportunity, they are a launching pad. Trust is required for people to feel safe enough to create, share, question, attempt, and risk. Without it, leadership is weak and teamwork is impossible.”
“One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears. That may seem counterintuitive, because we expect persuasion to involve speaking. But when a leader listens to members of the team, that act gives the leader greater credibility and therefore influence. In contrast, when team members no longer believe that their leader listens to understand them, they start looking around for someone who will.”
“Care and candor must be in balance. Care without candor creates dysfunctional relationships. Candor without care creates distant relationships. But care balanced with candor creates developing relationships. … Caring values the person while candor values the person’s potential.”
My Patreon supporters have access to all of the quotes I shared from this book. You can join them to get exclusive content and early access to other content by becoming a supporter today.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
Some people have a misconception about leadership that John Maxwell dispels in the opening words of his book Leading in Tough Times. He writes, “Good leaders understand that adversity and challenges are actually opportunities to rise up in leadership.”
In fact, I would say that some of the best leaders have gone through some of the toughest of times, learning lessons that have set them apart as an exemplary leader.
If those statements inspired you, then Leading in Tough Times is the book for you! As he does in all of his books, John Maxwell culls the best advice from the best sources and distills it down into actionable steps for leaders who are ready to learn. In this book, Mr. Maxwell shares seven challenges that give leaders opportunities not just to go through difficulties, but to grow through difficulties.
If you are in a challenging season right now, this book could be a lifeline for you. If you aren’t in a difficult season right now, use this book as a training manual for both you and the emerging leaders around you to prepare for the next challenge. After all, the challenging times are inevitable, but our growth as leaders in these times is entirely up to us.
dire straits:
[dahyuhr streyts] / ˈdaɪər ˈstreɪts /
→ very difficult circumstances.
In Psalm 142, David relates the dire straits he was in:
Enemies closing in.
Trapped in a dead-end cave.
No one around to help.
I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. (Psalm 142:4 NLT)
When there is no earthly way you can get out of the jam you’re in, it’s a perfect time for God to show you that He cares enough to do what no one else can do or will do!
Don’t throw in the towel; throw your hands up to God.
Then I pray to You, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” (Psalm 142:5 NLT)
If you are in dire straits, you may also want to check out:
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
On this episode of The Podcast, let’s talk about seeing something brighter in the darkest of times.
Check out all of the Scriptures I reference in this video here.
You may seem some glimmers of light in your dark place—like Paul did in the Roman prison—but even if you don’t see anything but darkness, make the choice to worship. I need to remind myself that God has a plan for my life and that He is working out all the details for my good and to bring glory to Himself.
Let’s change our self-focused “Why me?” to God-focused worship as we say, “Thank You, Jesus, that You are using me to build Your kingdom!”
Moreover, [God] called for a famine upon the land of Egypt; He cut off every source of bread [Genesis 41:54]. He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold as a servant [Genesis 45:5; 50:20, 21]. His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron, until his word to his cruel brothers came true, until the word of the Lord tried and tested him. The king sent and loosed him, even the ruler of the peoples, and let him go free. He made Joseph Lord of his house and ruler of all his substance [Genesis 41:40]. To bind his princes at his pleasure and teach his elders wisdom. (Psalm 105:16-22 AMPC)
“The word of the Lord tried and tested him.” When we cling to God’s promises despite the seemingly impossible circumstances we are in, that faithful clinging matures us. It both softens our heart and strengthens our trust in God.
Before going through the difficulties, Joseph wasn’t ready to operate effectively in such a lofty leadership position. God uses all things to mold us and shape us for His purpose (Romans 8:28). We certainly see a more mature Joseph standing before Pharaoh than we saw interacting with his brothers earlier in his life.
God called Joseph and he prepared Joseph. All that was lacking was Joseph’s faithful clinging to God and yielding to God’s maturing process. The end result was one of the most impactful leaders that history has ever known!
When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness. (Proverbs 11:2 AMPC)
The pruning, trials, and discipline the Lord allows us to experience are for an important purpose: To allow ourselves to be emptied of ourselves. This humility that empties us of ourselves makes room for us to be full of the presence of God.
On the other hand, remaining full of yourself—also called “pride”—will also bring an emptiness. But this emptiness comes with shame and is absent of God’s fulfilling presence.
You and I must choose one or the other: humility before God or pride in ourselves.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
Paul’s first visit to Philippi didn’t go so well!
It started off with some success—Lydia and her household accepted Jesus as their Messiah, and a demon-possessed girl was set free—but then things turned sour very quickly! Paul and Silas were falsely accused of subverting Roman law, and without any sort of trial they were beaten and thrown into prison.
Even after the local magistrates realized their mistake in mistreating Roman citizens in this way, they simply asked Paul and Silas to leave town. You can read this story in Acts 16:11-40.
But there were seeds planted in this city. Not just Lydia’s family, but the jailer’s family as well, became followers of Jesus. And what about the girl set free from demonic oppression? I have a hunch she joined with the Christians in praising God too! This group of believers then became the first financial supporters of Paul’s missionary work.
Paul knew that his brief imprisonment in Philippi had resulted in a thriving group of believers. And now as he writes a letter to these saints from a Roman jail, he is once again starting to see what God is going to do through this hardship—
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brothers and sisters, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)
Paul was not embittered by his imprisonment, but he was rejoicing in all of the good things God was accomplishing because of his imprisonment.
✅ An attitude of thankfulness allows our eyes to stay open to God’s blessings even in hardships.
❌ A grumbling attitude prevents us from acknowledging what God is doing.
Paul’s trust in God’s provision gave him an attitude of gratitude in a difficult place, and he now encourages his friends to adopt this same mindset. In the next chapter, he writes—
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)
Paul knew that in a heart full of gratitude there is no room for grumbling. That’s why always rejoicing in the Lord is “a safeguard” for Christians. Rejoicing in God’s character and God’s blessings keeps our mind on Him, making it very difficult for any temptation to ambush us.
Let’s proactively keep a heart full of gratitude so that no grumbling can seep in. But if we do find ourselves in a dark place that may prompt us to grumble, let’s react quickly to turn any complaints into praying and singing hymns to God, just as Paul and Silas had done in the Philippian jail, and undoubtedly as they were also doing now in their Roman jail.
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The Israelites had just been released from the slavery in Egypt when they faced one of the most difficult places they would know. God taught them how to thinking differently in this hard place.
Think back to some of the hard times you’ve been through. Do those times conjure up fond memories and a longing to return to yesteryear? Of course not! Most people do their best to forget these moments as quickly as possible, but a mature leader recognizes the value of the suffering they’ve endured. Join us for today’s episode as we discuss how your most painful moments have the potential to be your biggest opportunities for growth.
![Psalm 142 [intro]](https://i0.wp.com/craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/psalm-142-intro.jpg?w=386&h=386&crop=1&ssl=1 "Psalm 142 [intro]")
![Psalm 142.4 [nlt]](https://i0.wp.com/craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/psalm-142.4-nlt.jpg?w=386&h=386&crop=1&ssl=1 "Psalm 142.4 [nlt]")
![Psalm 142.5 [nlt]](https://i0.wp.com/craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/psalm-142.5-nlt.jpg?w=386&h=386&crop=1&ssl=1 "Psalm 142.5 [nlt]")
Craig T. Owens 