By: Laura Bennett
Levi Lusko has been a pastor since he was 20, but when his life spiraled at 38 it reset his approach to ministry and informed his latest book Blessed Are the Spiraling.
Always considered “young” in ministry, Levi planted his first church at 23, wrote his first book at 30 and developed an impressive international roster of speaking engagements.
During the pandemic, Levi was forced to confront how attached his identity had become to “being the young one” and what it meant to hit midlife.
“I was wrestling with some hard but important questions,” Levi said.
“There’d been 20 years of a really intense travel schedule [and] I was feeling the miles – there was some spiritual jet lag.
“I was also connecting the dots on some unprocessed trauma I’d faced when I was young that I’d never really been honest about the impact it had on me.”
Levi went from being really energetic and inspired to having panic attacks in the night, wondering if he could lead the church anymore and was “bewildered by a sense of apathy”.
“It was really disorienting,” Levi said.
“There was this increasing sense that I didn’t have what it takes to take us to the next level.
“It left me feeling very confused.”
The stereotype of a midlife crisis is that you buy the car, quit the job, change the girl, but Levi saw an opportunity to “spiral upward” and address his feelings.
“When you’re hurting you just want to numb the pain out rather than deal with it” Levi said.
“The other option is, I’m going to lean into the hard questions [and] go to God on my knees and say, ‘Lord, this hurts, what are you saying to me?’.”
Now 43, Levi’s embraced the transition from “young warrior” to “wise sage” and thinks mid-life can be embraced not dreaded.
“You have to be honest and acknowledge this season that’s leaving me, I loved,” Levi said.
“But [this new one] has some benefits, I have some perspective.
“We don’t have to be terrified of what we’re prepared for.”
The reason Levi wrote Blessed Are the Spiraling was so people could be prepared and see the benefits of our breakdowns.
“This is fertile soil, don’t waste this pain,” Levi said.
“My trap [was] to believe if I didn’t accomplish anything I don’t matter, and that’s not true.
“God loves me for being me.”
Levi reminds those spiraling now it’s important not to give up – “or get a tattoo” – and know there is another side to this season.
“I’m sorry, but you’re lucky,” Levi said.
“You’re lucky because God’s near to the broken-hearted [and] is preparing you for things He has for you.
“Don’t give up.”
Levi Lusko’s book Blessed Are the Spiraling is out now.
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
Feature image: Publicity Image – Used with Permission
About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.
