When feeling more than I ought or when distracted by the many things going on in my life, either I read or am reminded by the Holy Spirit of a book I first read years ago called Tortured for Christ. It is filled with not only the testimony of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand but also stories of others who paid much high prices or gave of themselves for the Kingdom despite the attacks and distractions that came against them. These individuals are not unique or alone.
How many of us get distracted—wrong relationships, hurt feelings, discouragement, etc.—and sadly we may shut down? We make our feelings and resistance known by words or actions/emotions. And in shutting down, we neglect people and duties or obligations set before us.
Please understand that I am not saying we should shove off feelings or emotions as if we are to be heartless robots. But when we are overwhelmed with our frustrations, anger, hurt, etc. and do not surrender those matters into God’s hands, we come out for the worse and others are hurt in the process.
I cannot tell you—just being honest—that emotion (anger) is aroused too highly and things and actions are said and done. And the Holy Spirit shames/rebukes me (lovingly) that my focus is wrong. But the deeper and more profound question is where/what is the root of that?
The remedies for this are not just pray more, read more, love more. Those are important but in context we are simply putting a small bandaid on a large and bleeding wound. As said we need to discover the root cause which is well beyond the recent hurt or affront that assaulted us. Is the root hurtful words said to us when younger or years ago? Is it violation? Is it a tragic loss where words were once said and now the relationship ended with unresolved matters and feelings? We may not always be afforded the opportunity to go back to that root person or situation and able to relive it and then choose an alternate direction or response versus what was done in the past. But what we can do is how Jesus dealt with people is get to the root matter, expose it, and then MOVE ON. There are many examples of people the Bible shares and Jesus spoke to but one that the Spirit brought to me the woman who was cast before Jesus’ fault for committing adultery. “Your sins are forgiven you, go and sin no more.” Jesus dealt with the matter, she was forgiven, and everyone moved on. Had she or us today hung onto those words, feelings, photos, etc., we will only continue to poison our heart. And because of that, others whose needs are more pressing—salvation—are ignored.
Paul the apostle continued to love and serve despite all that happened to him. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 itemizes a short list of all he endured. But the key verse is the following verse 28, “...my deep concern for all the churches.” Despite what he went through, he wanted to make sure that Jesus’ words/God’s Kingdom would grow and advance. Right after the Wurmbrands were released from prison they went about serving and when opportunity came they helped others to serve in communist nations that tortured and killed Christians because of their deep concern. So final question: where is our deep concern?