Passion Redefined

“I just want to find something I can be passionate about.”

In my own search for purpose and destiny, I have said this many times in one way or another. However, after a recent revelation of what passion really means, I have to seriously ask myself, “Do I really?” Is a passion what I am genuinely looking for, or am I simply in search of something I can enjoy and be enthusiastic about? I have to be honest with myself and reevaluate what it is I’m truly looking for because, as I am beginning to understand, being passionate about something is very different from being enthusiastic about it.

Let me explain.

When the vast majority of people (myself included) talk about being, or wanting to be passionate about something, they are most likely referring to strong emotions or an intense desire toward something. Which is great, and we should want that, but we should refer to it as such rather than saying we are or want to be passionate. This definition of passion came about sometime in the 13th century and, unfortunately, it sorely misses the mark of its original intent.

To have passion for something means:

A Willingness to Suffer for What You Love!

Let that sink in for a minute…

How much of your time on a daily basis is spent doing something, or even thinking about something in which you would be willing to suffer out of genuine love? If I were honest with you and myself, outside of my family, I spend very little time even considering it.

Jesus is by far our greatest example. The Bible says, “For the joy set before Him, He endured the Cross” (Hebrews 12:2a). Because of His great love for humanity, He suffered and gave all of Himself willingly. Being God in flesh, He could have rescued Himself at any point from the time of His arrest up to taking His final breath. But He didn’t. He said of Himself in John 10:18, “No one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.” Jesus willingly chose to put the true definition of passion on full display for you and for me. And it cost Him everything!

The only other person I know of who displays a very similar level of passion is my wife. Her passion for the issue of trafficking has only grown since the start of our organization. Over the last several years I have had a front-row seat to her growth as a person and the growth of her passion for the many girls who are victimized. Many nights she has lost sleep while thinking of new ways as to how she can help to curb the issue and how she can help the next girl. I have seen her cry so many tears because she struggles sometimes to believe that what she’s doing is enough. It as caused worry, stress and has shaken her faith on more than one occasion. She has even sacrificed her time, money and love for girls locally so she could mentor them and get them the help they need.

From the outside, you can easily make the mistake of believing that she has it all together and is living a glorious lifestyle. But let me tell you that this is far from the truth on the inside. Her heart breaks for the young ladies she has had the privilege to serve and help. Many times she has been misunderstood by those on the outside because of certain decisions she makes. She carries a burden that would break the backs of most who might attempt to carry it. Though she doesn’t always understand it, she willingly gives of herself for the sake of others who are less fortunate. And oftentimes she does so for many ladies she will never meet face to face.

Her passion drives every decision she makes. Her passion drove her to buy and restore a property that everyone else wanted to tear down. I have witnessed it take her halfway around the world twice to work hand in hand with girls who, without her, would not have a place to work and get healing. Instead, they would be out on the streets and probably in the hands of traffickers…again.

People do not do what she does unless they are driven by passion – unless they are willing to suffer for what they love.

With these examples in mind, we must redefine how we think about passion. I’m a drummer and love to play music; I get joy from it and love to use it as the gift that it is. But I’m not passionate about it. I have no doubt that there are many of you who love what you do, and may even feel called to do it. Yet, based on this definition, you’re not passionate about it.

In light of all this our challenge must be to ask ourselves this very difficult, yet serious question: what are you willing to suffer for out of love? If you don’t have an answer, ask the Lord to highlight something you can be passionate about. Even though she stays tired and exhausted and stressed and all of these things, I have never seen my wife more alive than when she is following her passion. Finding the answer is not a requirement, yet I genuinely believe we will remain unfulfilled until we do.

I pray that we all find it. Because within our passions, we will find life, purpose, destiny and joy set before us!