ARE YOU WILLING?

"The Christian life is a journey to the greatest joy that exists. But 'the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few' (Matthew 7:14) Why is that? Because, paradoxically, in order to pursue our greatest joy, we must deny ourselves." – Jon Bloom

As I looked out at the kiddos playing in the school yard, God started speaking to my heart about willingness.

He asked in his still small voice, "Are you willing to stay forever?" 

He assured my anxious mind that he's not asking me to stay forever; he just wants to know how willing I am to follow him wholeheartedly. How willing I am to fully depend upon him no matter what happens, no matter where he leads.

I said yes to living in Haiti with an end date in mind, but am I willing to loosen my tight grip around the idea of a timeframe? Am I willing to let go and trust God with full assurance that he is working out all things for my good? Am I willing to let go of things I desire in order to glorify the one who gave me life? 

The answer is yes. Sometimes, I wish I was a little less willing so I could go back to a more "comfortable" life with less heartbreak, stress, and mosquito bites. However, a life poured out for Jesus' sake is undeniably worth it, and I am more than thankful for this wild adventure towards eternity with him.

Jesus said it himself, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?" (Mark 8)

Thankfully, I trust that God is who he says he is. No matter where I go, what I do, and when I do it, he is faithfully working it all out for my ultimate good according to his perfect plan. Denying myself, taking up my cross, and following him is my best option. So, I'm going to stick with that no matter the cost.