I know the narrow gate of our faith and walk with Jesus is challenging and uncomfortable to endure. It can grow scary, intimidating, and fill us with weary. It tests our hope and faith in God and sometimes makes us question His love and goodness towards us…As children of God, followers of Jesus, and bearers of the Holy Spirit, we can rest in His is protection and know that wherever He leads us, is good.

Jesus was the means of the created light in the darkness in the beginning, He broke through the darkness of night and was born to a virgin, He shot light into the face of death as He resurrected and He continues to bring light to the darkness of our situations, a light that cannot be extinguished (John 1:5).

Although I feel the need to catch up with Him, I know the proper response is to not run faster, but to repent. It isn’t to double my effort and perfect my works, but turn my gaze towards Him and surrender. Our obedience is not so much about the works and acts, but rather our heart posture towards God. Obedience happens when we are turned towards Him, it is an intentional response that flows more freely once we are in this state of posture.

There are times during our journey as Christians, where we may find ourselves in a familiar place. A sense of déjà vu overcomes us as we take in the familiarity of a lesson once previously given. I imagine Jesus holding our hand tightly as we attempt to pull away and forget our past, as though He is motioning, “Not yet”. Not that He wants to instill feelings of regret, guilt, condemnation or sorrow within us as we prefer to just forget, but to point us back to Him and the healing He is bringing to completion

His word is incapable of coming back void because He authors and allows everything. He has His hand and eye on everything and everyone. He alone can change hearts, hardening and softening them in all of us for the sake of His word coming forth.