Pastor John MacArthur made a brief return to the pulpit on Sunday evening after a months-long absence due to health issues, delivering a message of gratitude amidst his challenges.
The 85-year-old pastor of Grace Community Church (GCC) in Sun Valley, California, received a half-minute standing ovation from the congregation during the church's Thanksgiving Communion Service. He has endured three heart surgeries and lung procedures as health challenges.
"I'm still here, and thankful to the Lord for that," MacArthur remarked. He acknowledged that while his absence was not his choice, he understood that “sometimes trials are blessings in disguise” and noted that God's purposes often unfold in unexpected ways.
“God has purposes that we would've never been able to fulfill if we weren't put into some kind of stress,” he added.
Speaking on his condition, MacArthur said, “When people ask me how I feel, I say I'm thankful,” emphasizing, “I'm just thankful I see the good and gracious and kind and providential hand of God in every vicissitude in my life, every hard experience, every challenge — whatever that challenge may be.”
He also explained that his health challenges had allowed him to witness the “good hand of divine providence” in ways that would not have been possible without adversity.
“I can be grateful because I know the outcome of everything. The outcome of everything is to the glory of God and the benefit of His children, right? So I want to make sure I allow my own heart to rejoice in the fact that God will perfect me and will bring glory to Himself through my trials, probably more than any other way.”
His appearance at the communion service was the first since he provided a health update on October 20. He recounted an incident in January 2023 when he experienced breathing difficulties before a Sunday sermon, which required medical attention.
“It's been a long siege of not breathing normally,” MacArthur shared, explaining how a series of heart procedures, including the placement of four stents, led to the discovery of fluid in his lungs.
He expressed that his gratitude has only grown through the testing, regardless of what lies ahead. “One thing that I have found is that my thanksgiving has increased because it's in the trials when you're face to face with things that could easily overpower you, and you have no particular control over them at all, that you find your faith is tested,” he stated.
“And out of that testing has come an immense amount of gratitude to the Lord. He has revealed Himself in all these issues, all these trials, in so many ways that I can't even begin to count.”
It remains uncertain whether MacArthur will return to full-time preaching or serve in another capacity.
