Lose to Win

By Jennifer Ash

“Courage is as often the outcome of despair as of hope; in the one case we have nothing to lose, in the other, everything to gain.”
--Diane de Pointers
 

Last night I sat with a friend who is struggling with giving their life to God. As we talked, my heart ached for her struggle.  Questions like "So if I give my life to God, everything will be okay, right?" were difficult to answer. When someone has had a life that has seen difficulties, pain, and confusion it is complicated to explain to them that accepting God doesn't mean life will be any easier.  In fact, it can be harder.

As she spoke of the things that had hurt her in the past, and how she was determined to have things be different in the future I searched for words to help her understand, there is no negotiation with God. Yes, He wants to know what is on our hearts, the things we desire, but like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane we must always end our petitions with, 'but ultimately God, Your will I pray.'

As I prayed to know what to say to help her understand, she asked, 'Well, just how much of me does He want?' Suddenly I realized I didn't need a bunch of words, or detailed description, one word was enough, "everything", I said. The look on her face said it all, 'everything?' There was no hesitation in saying it, but the weight that I felt when I said it was heavy, and yet light all at the same time.

". . . and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." This verse from Matthew 10: 38-39 highlights one of the most difficult ideas for us to accept when we come to Christ.  It by no means implies we need to be perfect, we will be blemished somehow until the day we die and Christ gives us a new life. But what is does mean is that Jesus becomes not only our Savior, but our Lord.

According to Merriam-Webster, "Lord" means to have "power and authority over others", "preeminence to whom service and obedience are due". This is a pretty tall order. I think people stumble over this because they fear that letting Jesus be Lord over their lives means that they're going to have to go to some forgotten country and be missionaries, or give up having a sense of humor, and life must become serious and almost rigid. But this is so far from the truth.

God makes promises in His word that He has good plans for our lives, that we have a purpose to serve, and that we will have "inexpressible joy". The thing is those plans, that purpose, and the joy are not going to be found in the things of this world. The things we are so preoccupied with before we accept Christ must be set aside, and we must put Jesus in first place. It doesn't mean those things are bad, or wrong, or even that Jesus won't give them to you. What it does mean, however, is that either way, it shouldn't matter. Jesus, and His will and purposes for our life will become the reason for why we do the things we do, and have what we have.

My friend was torn last night as I left her house. I could see she desired to have a life and love relationship with God, but wasn't ready to give her life over to Christ's Lordship. If I am being honest, in fact, if most of us would be honest we all struggle with that even after we have come to Christ. The war has been won, but the battles are waged daily.

Choosing Christ doesn't change having hardships, or difficulties in life. What is does mean though is that we no longer have to go through them alone. And when this life is over, we will live in land where there will be no more tears, or struggles, or hardships. So when you are feeling like you are in a battle, and you are losing, go ahead and lose. Lose yourself to Christ; it's the only way to win.

Father, I pray that as we fight against the unseen principalities of this world, and we feel weary, and lost, let us fall into your arms Christ and be assured that you have more than enough strength to not only hold us, but fight our battles for us.
 

Jennifer is a full time minister of discipleship who enjoys writing and finding creative ways to connect people with God and His Word.  If you would like to comment on this article feel free to email writers@blessedlady.com.



 

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