They Persecute Me
- nichollambrecht
- Sep 17, 2024
- 3 min read
I have been praying for God to reignite my fire for this site. He spent forty days working on me during Lent, speaking into, molding, guiding, and building courage within my heart so that I could publish this site.
I have been despised for it.
It's amazing how much smaller my circle has gotten since posting these blogs, since sharing worship songs, since proclaiming the Good News that is living life with Christ.
That must mean that I'm doing something right. I am fighting against the World. Which seems so very backwards. You sit here, scrolling through social media, and these content makers have thousands, hundreds of thousands of views for the most ridiculous, non-sensical, and some times vulgar posts.
And then there are those that are bold and say, I believe in a Redeemer that wants to save, and then what? Friends start to trickle away from following and listening, you get the sideways glances, the roll of the eyes followed by "Jesus lover" blah, blah, blah.
But guess what? God never said sharing the Gospel would be easy.
2 Timothy 3:12- "12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..." (ESV).
It's not my job to judge.
It's not my job to save.
It's not my job to stay quiet so that the world can speak louder.
It is my job to live a life worthy of someone seeing God's light reflected in my thoughts and actions.
It is my job to plant a seed praying that someone's heart will be opened to the goodness of his mercy and love.
It is my job to not live in fear of retaliation or loss because my words rub others the wrong way or go against everything that the world says I must accept.
It is my job to share my stories.
We all have a story.
Suffering through addiction. Living through and overcoming trauma. Being a single parent. Surviving the military. Homelessness. Having nothing and then having it all. Having it all and then having nothing. Being hurt by the church. Losing a loved one.
No matter the story, no matter the person, no matter the circumstance, no matter the response, we have walked these steps for a purpose.
That purpose is to share with others the saving grace that is only found in surrendering to our Lord in whom we can know true peace and love.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10- "9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (ESV).
No matter the insults, the persecutions.
No matter what you may lose, who you may lose, the mud you may be dragged through.
Your story shares what is waiting for us.
Eternity.
Grace.
Forgiveness.
Mercy.
Strength.
A Father that loves each one of us, waiting to call home anyone willing to open their heart and say, "Yes Lord. I give my life to you."
Share your story. He will make you strong in weakness.
Sinking Deep
Image courtesy of Spotify.
From one "Jesus Lover" to another...I say you are on the right track! You have just as much right to the First Amendment as anyone else.
I love your posts and I admire you for having the courage to post what is in your heart. I love hearing you quote scriptures and share encouraging messages. My dad used to say, "When you're on the right path, it will most definitely be uphill."
You are beautiful, intelligent, and kind (oh, and an amazing singer!) Just keep doing what you're doing. Love ya.