After spending half the year pursuing my passion of writing, I got numb. I even felt physically exhausted. It’s a bittersweet truth about passion; it can be good or bad.
The apostle Paul is an example. His desire to be used by God became so strong, it blinded him to God’s will—he became somebody else. The irony is he had to become physically blind before he could see how far from God he was. You can be ready and willing and be wrong.
We get so caught up in life doing things for God; we forget Who we are doing them for. Then God has to slow us down to get us on track.
This is why scripture tells us to rest and be still (Psalm 37:7, 40:1). That is what I sensed God telling me when I got burned out. So I took a break and watched a couple of movies.
The first movie I watched affirmed what I felt Him saying. In the movie Dr. Strange, Stephen Strange is a world-renowned surgeon who gets so caught up in his craft, his passion for surgery ruins his life and God intervenes to make him to realize it.
Strange is in a car accident left unable to use his hands, he feels incomplete. After years of rehabilitation, he realizes he is on a different path in life. Strange is unable to rest and his passion leads him on a journey for a cure. He speeds over the speedbump and becomes obsessed with what he wants. His passion becomes a curse.
PASSION?
Passion is “Any powerful or compelling emotion, as love or hate, strong amorous feeling or desire, fondness, or desire for anything, sexual desire.”
Ever since seventh grade I’ve had a passion for writing. No matter what I do, whether it’s working out, biking, dancing or singing—nothing fullfills me like writing, I’m all in.
Sometimes our passions can be a calling, others a curse. It takes wisdom to know the difference. There are steps we can take to help get to the otherside.
At the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian writer’s conference, speaker Karen Porter shared, “Elijah had a passion for God. Elijah built an altar to God first.
• Build an altar–to be healed, to move on from pain and sin.
• Read the Bible-learn the mind of Christ.
• Pray-let God change you.
• Listen-see things from God’s point of view, learn from editors and agents.”
I’d like to think I’ve learned the art of listening after all I’ve experienced. However, like the apostle Paul, I know how knowledge and passion can blind us. It took a Damascus Road experience to teach him he was spiritually blind. God had to step in to show him his passion was driving him, not God.
From Paul I learn hardship isn’t meant to stop us, just slow us down and help us see God’s perspective—be still my soul and rest (Matthew 11:28-30).
STOP?
In college, I got caught up in pursuing the wrong things and I prayed God help me be free. My passion for writing was eclipsed by my desire to party (Romans 1:24). I was skipping class to hangout with friends. I thought I was bulletproof and resisted God.
If God hadn’t intervened, there would have been dark days and darker nights. I may have dropped out of college so the party could go on and on; I was one heartbeat away from going to hell forever on my own. Our sin nature distorts our passion as a green light to pursue worldly things; we are created to pursue God. My G.P.S. had to redirect in His perfect will.
My accident slowed me down; I knew it as soon as I woke up from my comma. Although the next 11 months of therapy were scary, they weren’t meant to stop me; only to slow me down like a heavenly speedbump.
The apostle Paul is an example. His desire to be used by God became so strong, it blinded him to God’s will—he became somebody else. The irony is he had to become physically blind before he could see how far from God he was. You can be ready and willing and be wrong.
We get so caught up in life doing things for God; we forget Who we are doing them for. Then God has to slow us down to get us on track.
This is why scripture tells us to rest and be still (Psalm 37:7, 40:1). That is what I sensed God telling me when I got burned out. So I took a break and watched a couple of movies.
The first movie I watched affirmed what I felt Him saying. In the movie Dr. Strange, Stephen Strange is a world-renowned surgeon who gets so caught up in his craft, his passion for surgery ruins his life and God intervenes to make him to realize it.
Strange is in a car accident left unable to use his hands, he feels incomplete. After years of rehabilitation, he realizes he is on a different path in life. Strange is unable to rest and his passion leads him on a journey for a cure. He speeds over the speedbump and becomes obsessed with what he wants. His passion becomes a curse.
PASSION?
Passion is “Any powerful or compelling emotion, as love or hate, strong amorous feeling or desire, fondness, or desire for anything, sexual desire.”
Ever since seventh grade I’ve had a passion for writing. No matter what I do, whether it’s working out, biking, dancing or singing—nothing fullfills me like writing, I’m all in.
Sometimes our passions can be a calling, others a curse. It takes wisdom to know the difference. There are steps we can take to help get to the otherside.
At the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian writer’s conference, speaker Karen Porter shared, “Elijah had a passion for God. Elijah built an altar to God first.
• Build an altar–to be healed, to move on from pain and sin.
• Read the Bible-learn the mind of Christ.
• Pray-let God change you.
• Listen-see things from God’s point of view, learn from editors and agents.”
I’d like to think I’ve learned the art of listening after all I’ve experienced. However, like the apostle Paul, I know how knowledge and passion can blind us. It took a Damascus Road experience to teach him he was spiritually blind. God had to step in to show him his passion was driving him, not God.
From Paul I learn hardship isn’t meant to stop us, just slow us down and help us see God’s perspective—be still my soul and rest (Matthew 11:28-30).
STOP?
In college, I got caught up in pursuing the wrong things and I prayed God help me be free. My passion for writing was eclipsed by my desire to party (Romans 1:24). I was skipping class to hangout with friends. I thought I was bulletproof and resisted God.
If God hadn’t intervened, there would have been dark days and darker nights. I may have dropped out of college so the party could go on and on; I was one heartbeat away from going to hell forever on my own. Our sin nature distorts our passion as a green light to pursue worldly things; we are created to pursue God. My G.P.S. had to redirect in His perfect will.
My accident slowed me down; I knew it as soon as I woke up from my comma. Although the next 11 months of therapy were scary, they weren’t meant to stop me; only to slow me down like a heavenly speedbump.
Great post, Passion invested in God is always a blessing. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteEven our passion for God can be bad if we get sidetracked.
ReplyDeleteI have been on that road out in the middle of nowhere. God placed a speed-bump along my highway to hell too. I really enjoyed your post and rejoice with you in the way our Father lovingly sets us on the right path - and He knows just what it will take!
ReplyDeleteGreat truths here! Thankful for how God speaks to us and uses us!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder to focus our energy on knowing God not just staying busy around Him. Glad you're safe now.
ReplyDeletePeople have the wrong view of slowing down or simply being still. You don't have to be doing something, such as writing, to be productive. Stopping to enjoy God's creation, read His word and rest our bodies prepares us for continuing to pursue our passion of writing. PTL for heavenly speedbumps!
ReplyDeleteI loved you observation that Paul was blinded so that he could understand he was spiritually blind. Luke uses blindness in interesting ways-- first in his gospel, and now here in Acts. I never "saw" this one until this blog!
ReplyDeleteSometimes our passions can be a calling, others a curse. It takes wisdom to know the difference. There is MUCH truth in this statement. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDelete