It has been 3+ weeks since I have picked up a paint brush because I am experiencing great suffering. Why am I suffering? Because of my passion.
Passion takes us higher. Motivates. Is exciting and makes your heart flutter! Passion fuels you to do things others wouldn’t. You will travel far and wide, give up and risk everything just to pursue something that makes your heart skip a beat. You may even pursue it for YEARS without anything physically manifesting in your life. But you press on because life without it is meaningless. Why?! Because passion is as expansive as God made the universe! But, have you noticed that with great passion comes great suffering?
If passion is SO beautiful, why is there SO much suffering?
The root of passion IS suffering. Literally. “Passion” is found in the Latin word “passio” which means “suffering.” There is it folks. You can’t separate passion from suffering. So, what ever your passion is, you will suffer for it, but passion is driven by suffering for something worthwhile.
What is worthwhile to you?
Jesus’ epitomizes passion. His crucifixion is referred to as the “Passion of Christ.” Why? Because WE are His passion. His heart is so white hot on fire for us that He endured the cross. He suffered FOR us! Praise God that you can’t separate suffering from passion. That the root of passion is suffering! Because of that, we will NEVER be separated from Him.
I am thankful that Jesus thinks I am worthwhile. That He is passionate about me. That He is passionate about YOU!
Pursuing your passion IS going to involve suffering in many forms: rejection, humiliation, physical, spiritual and emotional pain, slander, opposition, sacrifices beyond your imagination, long seasons of wretched discomfort, extreme loss, etc. But, it is a small price to pay for something greater. Yet, living WITH passion will always be so much more rewarding than living without it…
Friends, pursue your passion with all your heart knowing that your suffering is a path to great reward. Aren’t you glad that you are Jesus’ reward?
Know that you are not alone. Jesus is right there with you weeping and celebrating every gritty, bloody step you take towards the God given PASSION He placed in your heart.
I bless you with peace, joy, endurance and perseverance.
With great love and hugs, Megan
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
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