The Way of Jesus

Part 5: The Way of Self-Denial

In Mark 14, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, deeply distressed and overwhelmed with sorrow. He knows the unspeakable horror awaiting him, and he’s not hiding that he would prefer another way to save humanity. Jesus doesn’t pray once; he comes before God three times, begging him for a different plan. But there’s no other way. After pouring his heart out, something shifts, and he is filled with resolve and courage as he goes to the disciples saying, “Rise! Let us go!”

The world says that in order to have your best life, you need to “follow your heart.” When you go after what you want and achieve everything you desire, you will find happiness and fulfillment. Jesus offers a different perspective. He shows us that in surrendering control, we are able to experience the fullness of God’s plan for our lives. Most of us would say we want God’s best for us, but we also don’t want to give up control. We fear that God’s plans for our lives won’t be the same as our plans. And the truth is, they won’t. It’s in this very tension that God loves to work. When we acknowledge that we want to control but still choose to surrender to God, these moments become catalysts that open the floodgates of God‘s kingdom in our lives. Come before God and invite him to be King of your time, marriage, career, heart, sexuality, and finances. In doing so, you will experience true peace, joy, and fulfillment in your life.