Called 4 Jesus

by TA York

Option 1: Healing the Fragmented Soul:
Theme: Moving from survival to emotional restoration.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” — Luke 12:48

In the classic film Ben-Hur, there is a poignant scene where Judah Ben-Hur sits by a river. He dips his hand into the water, takes a few sips, and shakes off the excess. In that moment, his memory flashes back to his time as a slave on a forced march. He was dying of thirst until a merciful man brought him water. Reflecting on the weight of his survival and the pain he endured, Ben-Hur states, “It would’ve been better if I’d dumped the water on the ground and died.”
Self-loathing and internal suffering are heavy burdens. The wounds within the soul can last a lifetime.

I was physically abused as a child. While the physical scars faded years ago, the agony of rejection remains. Being told by my parents that I would always be “useless” and “worthless” left a lingering echo. I went to Jesus for healing, yet for a long time, I couldn’t even describe my “feelings.” I could recount the events and recite the theological answers to the problem, but I couldn’t tap into the emotion. I was, and in many ways still am, deeply hurt.

There have been many days where I prayed a prayer similar to Ben-Hur’s. I wished for a “do-over,” or felt it would be easier to just “pour the water on the ground.”

A wound this deep requires more than a bandage; it requires surgery and a blood transfusion. To find peace, I must lay my life on the altar as a living sacrifice, allowing God to cleanse my conscience (Romans 12:1, Hebrews 9:14).

The revelation is this: Because I am hurting, I find it difficult to trust others. It is hard to open my heart and love them the way God loves me. Healing isn’t a simple task, and it certainly isn’t “fun.” But it is the only path that truly releases the soul to God.

Option 2: Through a Broken Lens:
Theme: Breaking the cycle of spiritual blindness and reclaiming your identity.

Imagine the moment the tribes of Israel were released from Egypt. It was a time of electric excitement. For the elderly, it was a season of relief; the back-breaking hardship of slavery was finally over. For the youth, it was a grand adventure into the unknown. None of them had ever known life outside the borders of Egypt, yet here they were, exploring the wilderness with God as their guide.

Many of us equate this Exodus with our “first taste” of Christ. I remember the incredible joy I felt when the Holy Spirit first fell upon me. But have we ever considered the cost?

While watching the 1956 film The Ten Commandments, I began to think about the “other side.” I thought of the Egyptians who suffered because of one man’s hardened heart. Pharaoh was spiritually blind, and his blindness cast a shadow over his entire nation.

John 1:10 says, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.”

Often, we see our lives through a skewed view. I used to think of myself as a “minor character” in the story—never the lead. Do you feel the same? Do you feel unworthy of the spotlight? The truth is, Christ has written a story specifically about you. In His kingdom, you are a main character, provided you follow the “Script” (the Word).

Think of a camera with a shattered lens. What does the finished product look like? The images are fractured and split; nothing is in focus. This is how the world views reality—skewed and broken. Just as a cracked cell phone screen drives us crazy until we replace it, a broken spiritual perspective makes everything feel “off.”

Our past experiences create our identity. When we believe negative lies, we view God and ourselves incorrectly. Jesus is willing to let us “wrestle” with understanding Him because He wants us to seek Him out—not just through our own effort, but through the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the accountability of our brothers and sisters.

When I was spiritually blind, I inadvertently hindered others from coming to Christ (like Pharaoh blinded all the Egyptians). But 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us the key: “If my people… humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin.”

If you want your family and friends to find Jesus, seek God completely. Take off the mask and get real with Him. You don’t have to do this alone—discipleship and accountability are vital. Sometimes, we need someone on the outside to help us see what is happening on the inside.

God Bless