When passion arose

People have asked me how I got this passion to reach out to sex trafficked women in Copenhagen. So here goes; a tiny glimpse into my thoughts on passion and purpose…

Theologian Frederich Buechner describes the place God calls us to as a place where our deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. In this fusion, passion arises. At least that’s my experience.

In 2012, I was exposed to a place in the world aching for truth and light to prevail over the darkness reigning there. Red Light District in Phuket, Thailand is a dark, ugly place. Filled with prostitutes, pimps, abuse, lust, perversion and manipulation. It is literally the devil’s playground. A playground that makes sin look fun, satisfying and glamorous. It’s so distorted.

Strangely, it was a joyful place for me because I came alive. Alive to the love and redemption of Jesus. Alive to how God could use a broken woman like me. Alive to the lost and the broken around me. Alive to my gifts and talents. Alive to my calling.  I found something I could do forever. Serve and love and shine my light where it was really needed. All for the cause of Christ.

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By the grace of God, I didn’t forget what I had experienced when I returned to Denmark. I knew I could never again say I didn’t’ know sex trafficking happened in my lifetime. Suddenly I knew prostitutes by name. I was their friend in whom they trusted. I was changed forever.

So back home, I actively waited and committed my future to Jesus. I built up my faith in the Word, worship, community and prayer. I prayed that doors would open for me to serve prostitutes in Copenhagen but I was willing to serve wherever.

10 months later, Night Light Café was launched (April 2013) and I committed myself to serve from the outset. Such a prayer answer! Now, I am leading the place together with two other amazing women. (Night Light Café is a place that seeks to place value upon womanhood. We meet sex trafficked women at Istedgade with dignity and spiritual care three nights a week.)

Passion is so important. Lack of passion is actually fatal. Passion spurs us onward. Passion makes us want to go the extra mile. Passion makes people want to follow. Many of us can do great things without having the right reasons behind why we are doing so.  A person doing heroic things out of duty does not inspire. It shines through at one point what is fuelling us. Is our right doing producing good or bitter fruit?

Passion is not something we muster up but something we receive by walking closely with God. As we do walk with Him, He is transforming our hearts to be passionate about what He is passionate about. And God is passionate about people!

Godly passions come naturally when we truly see how passionate He is about us. He is FOR us! He is jealous for us to belong to Him and to make us into His beautiful likeness. His passion involves strong emotions too.

“How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?” (Psalm 79:5 ESV)

God is jealous to take everything away that is hindering us from intimacy with Him.

We are not saved to live numb lives enslaved to fleshly passions. We are saved to immerse ourselves in an even greater passion than our fleshly passions, namely a passion for the name of Jesus to be made famous in the earth.

We can never become too passionate about Jesus. I’m so happy that Jesus was passionate enough about me that He would go to the cross!

Evangelist John Wesley’s famous quote is too good not to post: “Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.” 

Feelings only will not sustain passion. Ongoing obedience will.

I pray we will experience how passionate God is about us. And I pray for God’s refining fire in our lives that will make us more like Him and replace old, fleshly passions with brand new, godly passions.

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