A Holy Burden

You know the saying "You can't unknow something"? Ok, so that isn't a direct quote, but you get the idea. Once something has settled in your head, or even worse, on your heart, it is so hard to shake free, even though our lives would be easier if we could live like we never knew "said something" in the first place. The burden of the knowledge that you carry weighs on you, directs your thoughts and decisions, becomes the lens you view your life through.

In Christianese, we might describe that as a "call." When the Lord so thoroughly saturates your psyche with His vision of a situation, it is soul-consuming. Oswald Chambers puts it like this:

"It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common  sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world's perspective, and have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will."

God has a call on my life, to share the message of His Good News with those who think they are beyond His reach. There is so much pain, dysfunction, fear...utter hopelessness...in this world. He has squeezed my heart for one particular section of our city, and given me a front row seat to see the need. I cannot walk away from the vision of what could be, neighborhoods transformed by the love of Christ.

I don't know what to do with this.

But, I know I can't "unknow" what I know. Follow me? I am trusting God to provide the next steps. He would not have put this burden here if He didn't have a plan for it, right?

How about you? What Kingdom need has He burdened you with? What breaks your heart? Where do you long to make a difference? God would not have settled this on you if He didn't plan to use it.