Series: Flowers in the Desert
I Peter 4:12-13 ESV
Matthew 16:18 ESV
Luke 22:56-62 ESV
I once had someone ask me what I wrote about on my website.
I told her I wrote stories.
Her next question surprised me…
She asked, well, are they just stories about YOU or are they stories about others?
I told her they were stories about people in the Bible, stories from my life with God, and occasionally stories about others. I told her I sometimes write about things we can relate to, like the strong Firestick plant that survives in the dry dusty desert. In other words, it depends.
I sensed from her reaction she didn’t want to read my stories about myself or my similes...or even my metaphors. I thought about that after our conversation and I remembered advice from every writing professor I sat under in English, Communication, Theology and Counseling. Every single one advised that we write stories about what we experienced or studied and what we know to be true. They also advised that when writing stories about Biblical characters the references need to be from reputable sources.
It’s my understanding that from their tutelage that sharing stories from the heart are best.
In I Peter 4:12-13 the apostle wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
When I think of Peter and his story I remember the story in the gospels about his struggle to be the person God called him to be. In hindsight we know Peter was called to be a leader.
He would be called The Rock by Jesus in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Yet we know from scripture that Peter was the disciple who denied Jesus three times as it was foretold, “Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:56-62)
So what changed in-between the denial and the man he became? While there were many ways God changed Peter we know from every failure, every fiery trial, every misstep, every dark night Peter faced, He became the man God needed him to become in order for him to BE the Rock.
There was a reason Peter legitimately was able to write about fiery trials in I Peter 4:12. It’s because Peter had faced many fiery trials.
It was no accident that Peter became the Rock.
Peter walked through fire, and he became the rock.
So, when writing about Jesus and the experiences we have had in life, rule number one in writing is that you write from the heart…write about what you know to be true.
Even when writing fiction, deep down it’s a richer fuller “work of art” if the writer has a broad array of experience in life (or in some rare cases a very vivid imagination).
What I can say from personal experience is that when I remember essays I wrote as a Freshman in college when I was eighteen years old they were nothing close to how I write many many decades later.
Even though I almost always got an A in college writing classes, the works were not written from the “depths”.
I hadn’t really walked through fire.
Just like Peter, when he denied Jesus three times the pain and agony of his betrayal helped to make him BE the Rock.
Our experiences, especially our painful experiences where we walk through fire change us.
When I was young I could write about God being faithful. I believed God was faithful because scripture said God was faithful. I believed scripture.
But today, I know…I KNOW God is faithful.
I know it because in my darkest hours when I didn’t think anything would ever be alright ever again, I found out that I was wrong.
When I was Humpty Dumpty who fell off the wall and my whole life was shattered, I was certain I would never be okay again. Every morning when I woke up, I could hardly breathe. The only time I didn’t cry for hours on end was when I was at work. I don’t know how, but every morning when I walked into work during those dark says, I would magically stop crying. Then, the minute I stepped out of the building at the end of the workday, I started crying again.
I couldn’t see how I could ever be okay again. I didn’t see how I could every go to church again.
Then, finally one day I had a few minutes of the day when I wasn’t t work where I didn’t cry. Little by little, God healed me.
I even went back to church, and it was good.
Decades later I can absolutely say I can rejoice in my suffering because I understand. I GET it. I can help others because I get it. And because I get it, I can write to it.
So, back to Peter. Peter GOT it. He messed up big time when he denied Jesus three times, but his experiences made him WHO he was.
He walked through the fire. He WAS the Rock.
Spiritual Practice: You
Who are you? What name would God I’ve to you?
In God, Deborah
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