ChosenRebel's Blog

Calling and Passion. We often see them side by side in the lives of those whose make a real difference in bringing the good news of Christ to the world. But often, we make the mistake of thinking that such a life of blessing comes with 24-hour joy, 365 days a year. It is not so. There is often a third companion in the journey of faith—a crushing of the ambassador of gospel joy.

My artistic friend, Britt Shellee, found and shared this on FaceBook, and I found it so true to my experience that I wanted to pass it on here.

Your Calling is Going to Crush You.

If you are called to mend the brokenhearted, you are going to wrestle with a broken heart.

If you are called to heal God’s little ones, you are going to experience your own share of trauma.

If you’re called at all to the lost and broken of this world. The throw aways.

To preach and teach the gospel, you WILL be sifted for the wisdom that anoints your message.

 

If you are called to empower, your self-esteem will be attacked- your successes hard fought.

Your calling will come with spiritual warfare and a sifting – BOTH are necessary for your mantle to be authentic, humble and powerful.

 

Your crushing won’t be easy because your assignment is not easy – and you can’t minister POWERFULLY what you haven’t walked out. Read that sentence again.

 

When you’re feeling the weight of it coming down on you, RUN to the Father who longs to be your comfort. Let him whisper your true identity over you while resting under the shadow of his wings. Position yourself against his heartbeat. Let him renew your strength and set your eyes forward.

 

No olives, no oil.

No grapes, no wine.

Your oil is not cheap my friend.

 

~Author Unknown

 

Remember the apostle Paul’s experience.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

And having remembered the apostles experience, let’s us follow his exhortation to press on:

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

Philippians 3:12-15

Shalom. 

He, our Savior, is worthy!