Sensitivity Is Not a Weakness — It’s a Spiritual Strength

It's unfortunate, but there are going to be people in your life who say that you're too sensitive. And I say that because I've had people tell me that my entire life. Their opinion was that it made me weak.

But when I came back to Christ, he revealed that was the furthest thing from the truth. Our Savior told me that my sensitivity isn't a disability. It is a divine ability that he gave me.

It is the ability to cut through the noise of life and feel what is real, to exude empathy when I see, feel or know that somebody else is hurting. And they don't even have to tell me that they're hurting. They can just be in my presence, and I know.

Other times, it's a thought I have about a friend, and I'll think to myself, something's going on. Something's wrong with them. It's one of my God-given spiritual gifts, and for most of my life, I was ashamed of it.

That frustrates me, because I was told that it was a weakness, when it's been a strength all along. My gift of sensitivity is what makes me great in ministry. “It's how I'm able to discern things, when people aren't even putting words to their pain.

It enables me to serve as an instrument of healing for people, allowing me to be of service to them. It's the power of the Holy Spirit that tells me, this is what's wrong with your brother or sister. I need you to say this.

I need you to do that. I need you to call them. I need you to approach them.

I need you to spend time with them. I need you to love them. At one point in time or another, the Lord has given me every single one of those directives.

Sensitivity is a sign of spiritual strength. It is what allows us to help and heal others. Sensitivity, when surrendered to Christ, is power.

Welcome to Born To Be A Butterfly, where we embrace healing and growth in Christ, so that we can experience true transformation. My name is Nina Pajonas, and I pray that today's message ministers to you. The Lord put this message on my heart in light of all that has happened this week, and because the enemy has been working over time to desensitize us “to evil.

Condemnation is not of Christ, and yet this society condemns people when they offend us. The thought process is, if we don't like someone, we don't have to care about them. That's the excuse the evil one provides, to excuse the absence of empathy.

Many no longer agree to disagree. Instead, they immediately label others their enemy. Compassion is the core of humanity, as is love.

So, if we are lacking in one area, we are sorely lacking in another. Satan tries to create shades of gray in the gospel, and tells God's children that they can live there and still be considered a follower of Christ. But how foolish are we to listen to anything that the Father of Lies says, especially when it's about our faith.

I'll refer to John 4, verse 20 NIV. Whoever claims to love God, yet hates a brother or sister, is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

This brings me to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Look around, look around, sisters. This nation has become a place where truth is under attack. “The foundation of this country was built on the right to speak freely, and now people are being killed for speaking biblical truth. Something horrible has happened in our nation. There has been a massive shift and a great divide.

Isaiah 5 verse 20 NIV, woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. This rhetoric started a long time ago when people said, it's just a little white lie.

No, a lie is a lie is a lie. And truth is truth. There is no in-between, it's either true or it's false.

It is what it is and that's all that it is. People want to blur the lines. They want shades of gray so they can claim righteousness when they're wrong.

Outside of politics, outside of ideology, this is about morality. And you can't hide behind excuses like, well, I don't get involved in politics, or I didn't know the person. It doesn't matter.

You don't need to know them to know that murder is wrong. You don't need to pick a political party or a political side. “to know that people celebrating death are not of Christ. I'm going to refer to Matthew 24, verse 12, NIV.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. If you gloried in this event, even a little, if there was any sense of satisfaction in your soul, that's a problem. If what has happened doesn't hurt your heart, then something is missing, and you need to bring that brokenness to your messiah.

Because even if you were apathetic, that's just as bad. Apathy means you're unmoved, unconcerned. You're completely indifferent, and none of that is Christ-like.

I have seen so much of that coldness this week. I have watched people who made it abundantly clear that they could care less about what happened. I'm not just talking about Christians here, although I've seen some online that have made me shake my head in disbelief because of the things that I heard that were coming out of their mouths.

If what happened didn't disturb you, check your heart. It doesn't matter if you're in Christ, not of Christ, or maybe someday will come to Christ. If you can't grasp the basics of humanity, thou shall “not kill.

Then something is seriously wrong. And what really grieves me is how many so-called Christians have revealed themselves in moments like this. You can tell when the mask slips.

People who claim to follow Christ but delight in death. Those who shrug it off as if nothing are showing their true colors. The Bible clearly says, anyone who hates a brother or sister does not know God.

If you carry hate in your heart, you don't know him. You might know about him, but you don't know God. Matthew 7, verses 21 through 23, NIV.

Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. But only the one who does the will of my father, who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?

Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers. Please hear me when I say this.

I am not saying that I have never struggled with great dislike. There have been many times when “I have struggled to forgive people. I've been angry.

Of course, I've been angry. I've been furious. People have done some horrible things to me, things I wouldn't wish on anyone.

And it has been really hard to forgive some of them. But I prayed anyway. I prayed for them.

I prayed for their families. I prayed for their souls. And eventually, my heart caught up to my prayers.

Matthew 5 verse 44 NIV, but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. There have been people who have betrayed me deeply. But later, they needed me to talk to someone they loved about recovery from substance abuse.

And do you know who they called first? Me. I was their first call.

And I picked up. I never hesitated. And I helped them.

Did they go back to not really caring for me afterward? Sure. Did they live their lives the same way?

Yes. But in that moment, they knew that they could count on me. They knew that despite everything, I wouldn't leave them or their loved ones in the ditch of despair. “And I didn't help them because I liked them, or because I agreed with their politics, or because they treated me right. I helped them because Christ helped me. I gave them my hand the way Christ gave me his.

I gave them his light when they were in the dark. I didn't let their darkness overcome me. 1 John 2 verses 9 through 10, NIV.

Anyone who claims to be in the light, but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. We are not called to like people.

We are called to love them. Like is fleeting and surface level. Love is eternal and spirit led.

That's what it means to walk with Jesus. That's what it means to love like Jesus. Last week, God pressed something so heavy on my heart.

He said, tell them not to focus on their feelings, but to focus on my faithfulness. I'm going to say something similar this week, but with a little twist. We are not supposed to focus on our feelings. “We are supposed to focus on our Father in heaven. Next, we should be thinking of His Son, our Savior, who is sent to die for our sins. And last, but definitely not least, we need to surrender any negative feelings we have to the Holy Spirit, so that He can realign us with the Lord's will and with His ways.

Let me be clear. As Christians, we are called to pray for our brothers and sisters, and that includes those who are not saved. We are to pray for all of their souls.

We are to pray that God opens their eyes and softens their hearts. We are to pray that they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and that they join our family of faith. And now, I'd like to ask you a few questions.

Number one, where in your life have you mistaken sensitivity for weakness instead of receiving it as a gift from God? Number two, how can you guard your heart against apathy or coldness when the world grows darker? Number three, who in your life do you need to pray for, even if they've hurt you deeply?

“Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of sensitivity that allows us to feel, discern, and love like you. Protect our hearts from growing cold in a world that delights in darkness.

Teach us to stand firm in your truth, to love our enemies, and to reflect the compassion of Christ in all that we do. In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus, we pray, amen. If today's message spoke to you, please share it with a friend and follow Born To Be A Butterfly so you never miss an episode.

If you've been struggling emotionally with the recent and horrific events that have occurred, please don't hesitate to reach out for help. You're not alone. If you have any questions, or would like me to pray for you, please send me a DM on Instagram, at Born To Be A Butterfly.

Or you can email me at ninapajonas.gmail.com.

Remember, the Lord can turn your wounds into wings. You were born to be a butterfly.