What to Do When Hell Breaks Loose: A Leader’s Guide

What do you do when everything you held onto shatters? When the weight of sorrow crushes your chest, when betrayal rips through your soul like a blade, when fear whispers that you’ll never rise again? What do you do when the darkness is so thick that hope seems like a distant memory?

I know that place. I’ve stood at the edge of devastation. I’ve lost what I thought was unshakable—my marriage, my sense of identity, my place in the church I once poured my life into. I’ve carried the unbearable agony of knowing my daughter suffered at the hands of evil, feeling powerless, raging against a world that should have protected her. I’ve known the kind of pain that makes breathing feel like a burden. I have walked through nights so dark that I wasn’t sure I would make it to the morning.

And yet—I am still here. Not because I was strong. Not because I had it all figured out. But because in that valley, when I was at my lowest, Papa God never left me.

I know the agony of shattered dreams, but I also know the presence of God that never leaves, the love that never fails, the provision that never ceases, the refining fire that purifies, and the recalibration that aligns us with His truth.

You are not alone.

Pain wants to convince you that you are forsaken, that your story is over, that there is no way forward. But that is a lie. Pain is not the end of your story—it is the very place where God remakes you.

Maybe right now, all you see are the ashes of what once was. But I want to take your hand and remind you—beauty rises from ashes. Light pierces through darkness. Hope is not lost. And God is not finished with you.

PAIN: A Pathway to Transformation

Pain isn’t just something to endure—it’s a process God uses to transform us. Here’s what P.A.I.N. can mean for you:

• P – Presence of God sustains you – Even when you can’t feel Him, He is near (Psalm 34:18).

• A – Alignment with His truth transforms you – This storm is recalibrating your heart (Romans 12:2).

• I – Intimacy with Him strengthens you – Pain brings you into deeper communion (James 4:8).

• N – New life and purpose arise from the ashes – What the enemy meant for harm, God is turning for good (Genesis 50:20).

”Pain does not disqualify you. Pain does not define you. God is using it to refine you.”

1. Revitalization: God’s Presence in the Midst of Chaos

When life strips you bare, when exhaustion overtakes your soul, the first instinct might be to fight harder, to keep pushing, to act as if nothing is wrong. But God’s way is different. He calls us first to revitalization—to be filled again with His strength before we move forward.

Revitalization does not come from striving but from surrender. Elijah, after calling fire down from heaven, found himself running in fear. He had just seen the miraculous, yet fear gripped him, exhaustion consumed him, and he collapsed under a tree, praying for death (1 Kings 19:4). Yet, God’s response was not rebuke—it was restoration. He sent an angel with food, provided rest, and ministered to Elijah in the quietness of a whisper. God met Elijah where he was, not where Elijah thought he should be.

Maybe you, too, have poured out everything and now feel like you have nothing left. Maybe you’ve given, served, fought, and now you’re empty. This is where God’s presence becomes your lifeline. His rest is not laziness; His renewal is not wasted time. It is the prerequisite to revival.

• Practical Application: Take time to withdraw and be still in God’s presence. Not for a sermon, not for ministry, but for your heart. Let worship fill your home. Let His Word be your daily bread. He is meeting you where you are.

  
  

• Scripture Focus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

2. Recalibration: Seeing Again with Kingdom Eyes

Furthermore, Pain doesn’t just exhaust us; it distorts our vision. When you’ve walked through suffering, betrayal, or loss, it’s easy to let pain shape your perspective. It whispers lies—“You’re alone. You’re forgotten. There’s no way forward.” But recalibration is the process of realigning our hearts with God’s truth.

Consider Paul. He was zealous for God, yet completely misguided. His belief system was built on religion, not relationship. It took being struck blind on the road to Damascus for him to see clearly for the first time (Acts 9). God had to strip away everything Paul thought he knew before He could realign him with truth.

When life blindsides you, it can feel like everything is falling apart. But what if, instead of falling apart, things are actually falling into place? What if God is removing what isn’t meant to stay so you can see Him more clearly? Recalibration isn’t punishment—it’s preparation. It’s the moment God reorients your vision to see things His way.

• Practical Application: Ask yourself, “What voices am I listening to?” If fear, doubt, or bitterness have been shaping your mindset, take intentional time in God’s presence. Fasting, prayer, and Scripture are key tools in realigning your perspective.

• Scripture Focus: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

3. Restoration: Walking in Authority After the Storm

God never restores something to its former state—He always restores it to something greater. True restoration is not just getting back what was lost; it’s stepping into a greater authority, a deeper anointing, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Peter understood restoration. After denying Jesus three times, he was consumed with shame. The man who once swore he would die for Christ had failed when it mattered most. Yet, in John 21, we see Jesus personally restore him. Not only did Jesus forgive Peter—He recommissioned him: “Feed my sheep.” What was once Peter’s greatest failure became his greatest testimony.

Your story is not over. The enemy wants you to believe that your pain has disqualified you. But the very thing that tried to break you is the very thing God will use to empower you. What if the crushing is producing oil? What if the fire is refining gold? What if your scars will be proof of resurrection power? God is not just healing you—He is positioning you for greater things.

• Practical Application: What has the enemy told you disqualifies you? Bring it before Jesus and allow Him to rewrite the narrative. Your pain is not wasted—it is fuel for your calling.

• Scripture Focus: “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace...will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10)

Final Encouragement: You Are Not at the End—You Are at the Beginning

Lift your head. The Spirit of God is upon you. You are called. You are chosen. You will rise again.