During this season of Lent, of pausing to dwell and really meditate on Christ and his sacrifice, I’ve realized how much I try to avoid the challenges and trials of life. So often, I try to veer from the dark rocky paths on my journey to holiness. I resist pain and sorrow, seeking comfort and pleasure instead. While Christ walked straight into the fire to rescue me, in the face of fire, I run screaming the other way.
Jesus’ path to the cross began long before the Gospel accounts. It was a plan written into the pages of time by the Father and the Son, written even before the very first sunrise. It was promised first to our parents in Genesis and affirmed throughout the Old Testament. Christ’s blood is the thread that weaves the pages of the Old and New Testament together to form the story of our redemption.
When I think about how Jesus knowingly and willingly walked up the road to the cross, I am humbled. He could have spoken one word and everything would have stopped. Just as he called the storm with one command, he could have stopped the soldiers with merely a whisper. The book of Hebrews tells us that, “for the joy set before him he endured the cross. ” Jesus knew that there was a greater joy beyond the pain. He anticipated the gratification of our complete fellowship with God and was willing to sacrifice himself to make that possible.
God’s plan to make us holy was a costly sacrifice for him.
Scripture tells us that to follow after him, there is also a cost for us as well. When Jesus calls us to follow, he calls us to a life of trial and sacrifice. We have to take up our own crosses. The road to holiness is a uncomforable one; the refining, cleansing process is painful. As Larry Crabb describes it, “holiness comes before happiness.”
The Israelites lived out this lesson in the book of Numbers. They were taught that life is very difficult; the road to holiness is full of trial and adversity. Their life was certainly not easy. They lived in a tent community, moving from place to place. They were completely dependent on God for their food, safety, shelter, and direction. They found that the road to the promise land was costly and full of obstacles. They resisted this, wanting a smooth path instead. They wanted a path they could walk on unassisted, where they wouldn’t need to rely on God for anything. When they grew tired of the food, they complained against God. “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!” (Numbers 14:2)
Like the Israelites, I often expect life to be easy and when it isn’t, I grumble and complain. It’s as though I want to accept the gospel and the suffering Jesus endured for me, but not have to sacrifice anything myself. Yet to be a true disciple of Christ, I have to walk that same road of sacrifice that my Savior walked. And like my Savior, I have to walk with joy, knowing the end result.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
I want to be mature. I don’t want to get to the end of the race and realize I am lacking. But what if the path to true joy in God is the narrow and most likely dangerous one? What am I missing when I avoid that which makes me uncomfortable, that which is painful, that which is frightening? And what would happen if I did face those dark waters of fear and doubt and risk the drowning?
What if in the drowning, I actually become truly alive?
It’s in the process of being refined through fire that gold comes through pure and unblemished. To trust completely in God, that he knows what he is doing, that his plan is good, that he will help me overcome whatever I face-this is the deep faith that shapes me to be more like him. Deep, lasting joy comes only through a life forged by the fires of sacrifice. It’s what Christ did for me. How can I do any less?
Linking up with:
Why is grumbling so much easier than praising? I’ve found if I catch myself grumbling-even a tiny grumble-if I start to look around me I can find things to praise God for. By the time I verbalize the second one praise is turning my attitude around. “Take time to be holy; speak oft with thy Lord. Abide with Him always and feed on His Word.” An old song but one this excellent post brought to mind.
Yes, praise and gratitude keep our eyes from our troubles and on the Lord. Blessings to you and thanks for visiting!
Fabulous.
How beautiful, and what a good reminder. Just what I needed today as I await all the bulletin information. Thanks Christina!
Thanks for your sweet words. And for visiting:)
“I run screaming the other way.” Oh, so that was you that was running along beside me!
A wonderful reminder of how we are sharpened by our trials and that we need to run towards them and embrace them rather than run away.
I’m glad I’m not alone:) Having friends in the Body is important to encourage one another to run back to Him. Thanks for visiting!
Love this truth: “Deep, lasting joy comes only through a life forged by the fires of sacrifice.” So glad that He walks us through it….
Yes! So thankful that He not only paved the way but that He’s with us through it all. Thanks for visiting!
Yep, I don’t like to walk into the painful, uncomfortable either. Thanks for the reminder that being a follower is also about trials and sacrifice, not just the things that make us feel good.
And thanks for your kind words. I always appreciate it when you visit my little place here:)
The struggle can be so taxing…it’s interesting how He uses the uncomfortable, painful, even dreaded things to work His beauty in us and lead us on His path. It’s so opposite of our thinking and way of life. We want relief and we want it now… but what might we miss out on if we had life just the way we wanted it instead of the way He designed. So glad that His ways are so much higher. Now to trust and act on that.
I love this post. Thank you for the challenge and the reminder.
I always think I am a better author than He is. At least that’s how I live out my life. But He knows better than I what is best for me. And He knows the joy that is on the other side of pain. Blessings to you my friend!
Amen! Sacrifice and surrender seems to be a theme that God won’t let me get away from. Thanks for your post.
joy and blessings to you,
Alida
https://blackpurlsknitpickings.blogspot.com
Amen! This is so true! It is so much easier to grumble than to praise. And why is it that we can question why God is letting us suffer when we go through minor inconveniences but it’s so hard to praise Him when things go right? Maybe, just maybe, He has a plan for our sufferings to bring about an even greater happiness than we could ever know…you think??
Blessings to you! Such a wonderful post!
His death brought life to sinners like me, how can I not trust that my own suffering will produce a harvest of joy? Blessings to you and thanks for visiting!
You hit another home-run here. I hear you, friend.
“It’s as though I want to accept the gospel and the suffering Jesus endured for me, but not have to sacrifice anything myself.”
Thanks for this thought-provoking piece. So glad you linked.
This is my heart, an open book:) He’s been teaching me and showing me the joy in the sacrifice. One step at a time. Thanks for letting me link up!
It’s so hard to let go and trust, and to have faith. I like your reflection on how the sacrifice was always a part of the plan. I’d love to have you post this on my blog hop - it’s truly inspiring
Paula at Welcoming Spirit
https://bit.ly/HeD4GH
Trust is hard for me but God gives me the strength and walks me through it. Thanks for stopping by!
What a beautiful Lenten lesson. And so easy to forget. Why do I expect my journey to be without sacrifice? When He gave all? Much to chew on.
I think our culture seeks a pain free existence and it rubs off on us. It seems to go against our nature to seek sacrifice. But then I look at Christ. Thanks for visiting!
Shall we like Jesus, let it be done to us? Thank you, Christina.
To give up ourselves for the sake of Him, can we? He will be our strength. Thank you friend!
Just beautiful! I can so relate to the “in the faced of fire I run the other way!” Oh I try not to. I try not to grumble and complain. I try to have faith and hang on, but way down deep sometimes I just want to run the other way. But I’ve realized there are such blessings in the journey of running to Him and not away from Him. Thanks for this beautiful gift today.
“I believe, help my unbelief.” That’s my life. But He accepts me as I am, little faith and all. He shows me the joy that awaits me. Thanks for stopping by!
yay-I can comment! (i was having trouble earlier with a 404 error…silly)
What a beautiful Lenten post. Stirred my heart.
Loved your ending:
“Deep, lasting joy comes only through a life forged by the fires of sacrifice. It’s what Christ did for me. How can I do any less?”
Striving with you, friend. Thank you!
Oh so glad you could! I am in the middle of switching from wordpress.com to wordpress.org and there has been some downtime. I’ve lost a few things along the way:( Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. I always enjoy your visits!
Thank you for the beautiful words and photographs. It is a privilege to share in the sufferings of Christ. We find our greatest joy hidden in His scars.
Yes! It’s what I have to remind myself, it is a privilege. Thanks for visiting!
Lovely photos and profound thoughts.