On A Friday…

It’s early on a Friday morning and I’m sitting at a kitchen table with two inspiring leaders. Alex and Garrett are married youth leaders, planning a large youth conference. One month to go and the tasks and decisions are daunting. Alex has spent the last day and a half supporting one of her youth in the hospital. They both  have been spending every loose minute meeting with volunteers and leaders ensuring that each one is equipped and inspired to spread hope to a hurting generation through a conference.

Alex says, “I’m choosing to enjoy this process instead of wishing for the finish line.”

Sometimes, it seems like it would be easier to close our eyes
and arrive at a destination and avoid the pathway that unlocks potential.

On A Friday…

It’s early on a Friday morning and Jesus is standing alone and in pain, replaying the awful events of Thursday in His mind. He can still hear the horrid footsteps of the soldiers approaching The Garden to arrest Him with weapons and clubs. He remembers Peter slashing the soldier’s ear, and He remembers picking up the bloody ear and placing it back on the soldier’s head, healing him. He remembers the inner turmoil that was roaring inside of Him as He prayed in the Garden, asking God to make another way … anything but the cross. Jesus wanted to close His eyes and arrive at the destination. The pathway from Thursday to Sunday morning was nightmarish.

Jesus did endure the days between Thursday and Sunday.

Jesus’ willingness to be whipped, ridiculed and executed is what awakens the human heart to the truth of God’s Great Love. It’s an unprecedented story of undeserved love, and has changed the entire world. Yes, it was Jesus’ willingness that demonstrated world-changing love.

There is a massive difference between doing what’s right and doing the right thing. It takes intention to do what’s right, but we can do the right things on autopilot. Jesus wasn’t living on autopilot, He chose to walk through the process from Thursday to Sunday for the joy set before Him and to gain the freedom of the entire human race.

Source Shift

Often, we want to move from problem to solution without having to experience the process that leads to change. Change is messy like a great springtime melt, there is mud and mess in the throngs of it, but there is joy on the other side – and lasting solutions!

Through His willingness, Jesus propelled lasting change, silencing spiritual forces of darkness and unleashing freedom for all mankind.

Through our willingness, lasting change is made possible too. When Jesus said, “Your will, not mine be done”, He shifted His Spirit into full reliance on God. He experienced a Source Shift. When we give God full control of our lives, we shift to let Him be our source as well.

On A Friday…

On this Friday, don’t wish to skip the process. As you choose with intention today, to walk through whatever process God is calling you to, be confident that the mud you are walking through is pregnant with purpose and will produce joy that can only be experienced as you continue to walk with willingness.