In the middle of persecution and suffering one thing is for sure – my world shrinks to the size of the pain. Sometimes I am conscious of its value, but mostly I close in on my pain.
Not surprisingly as I walk on this journey in the Suffer Ring, other bloggers have written on this. I have come to expect that, and welcome the variety of approaches I meet in other bloggers’ work, and the insights, inspiration and in-my-face teaching.
Here is a small part of one such post:
“…I don’t think the point is that we live above our circumstances. I really believe the point is we go through and we live in our circumstances but with new vision, new purpose, and new strength offered to us by Christ.
Paul, through his many trials learned that there is a larger story playing out. He longed to be a part and He became a part of that larger story…” (The Good News)
I have already touched on being happy in suffering and accepting the value of persecution for personal growth and discipline. But here “The Good News” raises yet another impossible lesson to live, that whatever happens to me is not about me. There is a bigger picture to consider.
And that’s easy to intellectualize. Letting it infect my skin holds a whole other dimension.
Persecution comes with serving God faithfully. Sure God uses the occasion to improve my spiritual condition, but God intends that my suffering for Jesus should become a transmitter to others of God’s message and plan of salvation for seekers, and of the discipline of enduring for the cause of Christ to other followers of The Way (as Luke calls it in Acts 18:25-26).
As part of the Body of Christ I am part of a big plan, that God “doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act” (2 Peter 3:9c God’s Word ©).
Pain causes self-obsession for me. For Jesus, however, it caused a widening of the eyes to see those around the cross, an image of the big picture. In pain Jesus lost self and entered a whole new level of compassion.
That’s clear, cutting and congruent.
Each station of this journey takes my strength away and leaves me gasping at the post. Yet I have determined not to stop. The picture must be painted, whatever its size.
+++++++
This Lent I am being led on a pilgrimage. I do not yet know if it is from persecution or to suffering or through both. Nevertheless the journey has begun.
16 responses to “The Big Picture”
nopew
March 16th, 2014 at 00:41
Thank you for the affirmation. We base our love on feelings while God bases love on promise. Truly a big difference – in our favour.
Peace
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greenlightlady
March 15th, 2014 at 01:02
I was touched by the words you put with your sunset picture. Whatever we are going through He cannot love us more or less than He does. That love is deeper than deep and wider than wide.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❁
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nopew
March 14th, 2014 at 11:28
Thank you! Even if I don’t get it all together walking with Jesus is worth the trip anyway!!
And may your own adventure bless you and all around you.
Peace
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nopew
March 14th, 2014 at 11:24
Obsessed is the right word, I think. Oh, to be obsessed with Jesus!
Peace
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Planting Potatoes
March 14th, 2014 at 11:06
good read…I have learned in my life and my own particular pain I’ve suffered, that while I will suffer pain in this world…I must not be obsessed with it, just trust that God will give me strength to live through it for him.
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lessonsbyheart
March 14th, 2014 at 04:59
I am excited to know that your journey has begun. Mine began in November and I can tell you that it’s been a wild ride – far beyond any expectation, my highest hope, my deepest longing. May the same be true for you.
~Praying~ 🙂
\o/
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nopew
March 13th, 2014 at 23:54
And where I end up God only knows! Lent is a good time for a journey.
Peace
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papapound
March 13th, 2014 at 22:02
Glad you started the journey. God will support you along the way.
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nopew
March 12th, 2014 at 21:52
Thanks again.
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nopew
March 12th, 2014 at 21:51
Right, on both observations. True and real.
Peace
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GraceandTruth
March 12th, 2014 at 21:47
Yes we are called to speak the truth in love, but we are not responsible for how that truth is received. That’s a hard thing to grasp. Ultimately I have found that you cannot please both God and man, it ends up being one or the other. I hope you are blessed by that article, I was. Blessings
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nopew
March 12th, 2014 at 21:42
There is so much about this vision that inspires. But I like the “keep talking” part. We are only called to do, not achieve results in our terms. The “many people” sure helps, and it is when our friends betray/abandon us that it hurts the most. I have saved the article to read later. Thanks and Peace
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nopew
March 12th, 2014 at 21:35
You are so right. I cling to this promise and others, sometimes only with faith because some of what I’ve gone through cannot be relieved just by “figuring it out”. It’s better to wait for God to “work it out”.
Peace
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kerrichronicles
March 12th, 2014 at 08:23
I love that you posted this! It takes time for the hurting and the wounded to put this into perspective especially if they have fallen away Christ in their suffering. One of the most sweeping and most loved promises in all the Bible is Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Perhaps more than any other promise in the Bible this verse has helped many trust God through experiences that seemed utterly pointless and painful and evil. People have held fast to the “all things” and believed the word of God – this too, this terrible thing, this seemingly pointless thing, will turn out for my good if focus on Him and seek Him for healing.
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GraceandTruth
March 12th, 2014 at 07:12
I don’t know if this will help you or not but I thought I would share it in case it does. From Bruce Reekie : http://www.brucereekie.com/attachments/File/Prophets_and_Prophetic_People.pdf
“During a crisis in Paul’s ministry in Corinth, when he was no doubt tempted to “cut and run” because of the persecution he was suffering from certain segments of the Jewish community, the Lord Jesus appeared to him in the night by a vision. “Do not be afraid,” said Jesus, “but speak, and do not keep silent. For I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-11). Paul continued teaching the word of God in the strength of that vision for a further 18 months, and consequently, raised up one of the most powerful churches of the first
century. Like Moses, he “endured by seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27).”
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mwitasblog
March 12th, 2014 at 05:23
The point, David, is that ultimately we stop living for ourselves and live for Him – and others, including our persecutors. It is easy to intellectualize this, as you rightly say. However, there is no greater blessing than to find ourselves sharing in even a little bit of its reality.
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“Independent of Outward Circumstances” | viewoutsidethepew April 8th, 2014 at 14:50
[…] I have written previously about how suffering causes our world to contract around us. […]
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