Max Lucado on returning to the true meaning of Christmas, pastoral burnout and a health update (exclusive)
A health update
It’s this continued reliance on the Holy Spirit's guidance for strength that has sustained Lucado, whatever challenges he faces. In 2021, he was diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm, something he described as a weakened, bulbous area in a blood vessel.
“The Lord Jesus has put His hand on my aneurysm and held it,” he shared. “I had a vision of Him doing that about three or four days into the diagnosis after I found out. I was anxious at first, I was praying, and I just had this vision or this image of a hand around an aneurysm.”
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Lucado confirmed that while the aneurysm is a significant health concern, it has remained stable and has not grown considerably. Regular medical checks help monitor the situation, and he remains optimistic that if necessary, medical interventions can address it effectively.
“It’s not a small thing," he said. "Not at all. But I feel that the Lord has placed His hand on it. So I don't think about it. I don't worry about it. It doesn't affect my life at all. I get it checked on a regular basis. It has grown, but not to any great degree. And if it grows to a great degree, they can fix it. So I really appreciate the prayers. I really do. I'm fine. I'm hitting on all cylinders. And Lord willing, I've got a few more years of ministry left me.”
In the coming months, Lucado said he's looking forward to the profound joy he feels in guiding his congregation to shift their focus from the festive hustle to the spiritual essence of Christmas — the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth.
“I love to stand before the church and say, ‘OK, all the traveling is done. The cooking hopefully is done. The shopping hopefully is done. The packages are wrapped, the tree is up, the decorations are up, the house is lit, and everything's done. Now it's time for us to do what we really need to do, and that's turn our attention to our Savior Jesus Christ,’” he said.
“There are so many things pulling on our attention throughout the month of December, but I love that moment when we all finally turn our attention toward the baby Jesus, the first Advent and then also prepare for the next Advent: The return of Christ.”
Learn more about Lucado's "Because of Bethlehem" event here.
Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com
