They had put him in a box and gave it a label – ‘No hoper’. None of his fellow church goers had a vision of him beyond his addiction. Subtly their limiting beliefs were limiting his belief in himself.
How often do we do this? We see the problem and not the person. We see the pain and not the presence of God calling us to think beyond.
Cutting, crying and confusion
The townsfolk were scared of this guy. He was wild, angry and full of demons. They had tried to constrain him with chains, but he simply broke them off. His home was now the local cemetery where at night he would yell and scream. He was covered in scars from cutting himself. No one would come near him. That was until someone did come and see beyond his present struggle to a time where he would be the greatest evangelists in the region.
Jesus prayed, and pigs flew.
This is the story of Jesus healing the demon-possessed man of Gerasenes. A man that had been given up on by his neighbors. You can read more in Mark 5:1-20. The most exciting part of this story is the final verses:
“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn’t let him. Jesus said, ‘Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.’ The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.” Mark 5:18-20
Jesus isn’t constrained by limiting beliefs.
A compelling vision
Jesus had a compelling vision that could see beyond. It drew him towards the man and not away Dr. Larry Crabb writes this:
“What would it be like if we had a vision for each other, if we could see the lost glory in ourselves, our family, and our friends? What would the effect on your sons or daughters be if they realized that you were caught up with the possibilities of restored glory, of what they could become— not successful, talented, good-looking, or rich but kind, strong, and self-assured, fully alive.
“When people connect with each other on the basis of a vision for who they are and what they could become; when we see in others what little of Jesus has already begun to form beneath the insecurity, fear, and pride; when we long beyond anything else to see that little bit of Jesus develop and mature; then something is released from within us that has the power to form more of Jesus within them. That power is the life of Christ, carried into another soul across the bridge of our vision for them, a life that touches the life in another with nourishing power. Vision for others both bridges the distance between two souls and triggers the release of the power within us.”
Larry Crabb, Connecting
The difficult person
What is your vision for the most difficult person in your life? Is it a compelling vision that has been birthed in prayer and nurtured in patient silence. Pray for a pulling back of the curtain of your limiting beliefs to see how God sees them – fully alive. It will most likely lead you to ask for forgiveness from God for such a chained up perception. Then pray again and ask God to keep this vision ever before you as listen and love. You may like to read my post Do You Have A ‘Mind To Work’?
May the vision God has for the others fill your life and strengthen it when all that can be seen are cuts, chains and confusion.
~ Barry Pearman
Barry lives in Auckland New Zealand and has a deep passion is to empower people with Mental Illnesses to find recovery and hope. In former years he has had roles as a Mental Health Support Worker and then as a Community Chaplain pastoring people with Major Mental Illnesses.
Visit him at his blog Turning the Page and follow him on Twitter
