Following Jesus Is Hard

Lately, I’ve questioned my motivations and have seen an ugly side of me that thinks more of my circumstances and/or successes and I seem to dwell on those things more than the things of God.

It’s possible to do a bunch of “Godly” work and have no God in the process. In fact, it’s more common than most of us think. We’ve got to get to a place of asking ourselves “do I want to do great things for Jesus?” or “do I just want Jesus, Himself?”

And in our culture and I’ll speak specifically to Austin with this (although I think this line of thinking is everywhere), we as followers of Jesus are having a hard time, but we rarely talk about it. We are finding it really difficult to follow Jesus, but are finding ourselves feeling guilty or shameful to bring it up. There’s “something in the air” that says following Jesus is easy and that everything becomes weightless when following The Lord.

Men and Women, following Jesus is hard. Really hard. Like….really…..REALLY…..hard.

Take the permission today, you have it. Confess to your brothers and sisters that following Jesus is a challenge for you. Do it. Feel the relief of being truly authentic and the Holy Spirit will bring refreshment to your soul.

Somehow we bought into a lie that everything should be easy. You know why it’s not? For those who are following Christ, we are called to die to our every inclination towards ourself and towards sin each and every day. That is HARD.

• It’s hard to deny ourselves.
• It’s hard to say no when we want to say yes.
• It’s hard not to worry or be anxious over our circumstances.
• It’s hard to have self control.
• It’s hard to take care of our bodies.
• It’s hard to guard our mouths.
• It’s hard to give sacrificially and to be generous.
• It’s hard to prioritize.

Here’s the deal, following Jesus IS hard, BUT absolutely and totally worth it in every way.

You know why?

Because we can’t do this thing called “Life.”

We just can’t.

How exhausted are you? How tired are you? Have you realized your pursuits feel empty at the end of the day? How’s that relationship going? How’s that pursuit of money going? Your career? Your family?

We need help and we are unable to help ourselves, which means we also won’t find the help with other people because they can’t even help themselves either. We need outside help. In all honesty, we need a Savior and THAT is where Jesus comes in.

Jesus gives us rest. Jesus helps us carry the load. Yes, following Jesus IS hard at times, but paradoxically at the exact same time He takes the weight off of our shoulders and puts it on His. He took ALL of our sins…past, present, and future, and nailed them to the cross along with His body.

Following Jesus is hard, but absolutely and totally worth it in every way.

Jesus is the only one who can truly help us. The only one who can truly give us rest. The only one who truly gives us a mission, a purpose, value, worth, dignity, an inheritance, treatment as a perfect Father would to His sons and daughters.

Following Jesus is difficult and hard at times, it’s true. It’s hard to deny ourselves and say no to us, but yes to Him. And at the same time, it is worth it…HE is worth it.

• It’s hard to deny ourselves. Jesus first denied Himself for us.
• It’s hard to say no when we want to say yes. Jesus said no in order to say Yes to His Father.
• It’s hard not to worry or be anxious over our circumstances. Jesus was content because He knew who was in control and He had a mission and purpose.
• It’s hard to have self control. Jesus experienced temptation just like us, but controlled Himself.
• It’s hard to take care of our bodies. Jesus took care of what His Father provided to Him.
• It’s hard to guard our mouths. Jesus was quick to listen and slow to speak.
• It’s hard to give sacrificially and to be generous. Jesus literally gave Himself for us to have a way to the Father.
• It’s hard to prioritize. Jesus had His prioritizes in line at all times, to live a perfect and sinless life, die on the cross, and to rise again from the dead 3 days later defeating death and sin in Victory.