When following Jesus, He often takes us places that are hard and uncomfortable. Whether that is unpleasant physical surroundings, experiencing pain, being away from friends and family, fasting, allowing God to take over our finances, or etc. Whatever it is, if not all at some point, the road God has us walking down, or wants us to walk down is not always easy. Matter of fact, it can be extremely painful, difficult, and costly. So the question arises: Is it worth it? Last month while in Nicaragua, God reminded me how much the answer to that question is a resounding, YES!
Living on an island in the middle of a huge lake allowed for some breathtaking views of God’s sunset. I greatly enjoyed watching in awe as God’s beautiful painting in the sky would unfold. To say He is a crazy good artist would be a huge understatement. All beauty and creativity flows from Him! One particular evening I showed up, to what had become my usual spot, a little later than normal. The view I came to see that evening was even more spectacular than usual.
As I looked to the right, I saw the remnant of the sunset. The sun having fully dropped out of sight, yet the grandeur of it’s presence still being seen by the colorful effects it was having on the clouds.
As I looked straight up, their were no clouds, just a beautiful night sky full of stars. It was as if there had been an imaginary line in the sky separating the clear night sky from the still ever so present sunset.
As I looked to the left, I saw yet another marvel in the sky. Another imaginary line separated it from the clear night sky. What I saw was a lightning storm, like one I had never seen before. The multitude and magnitude of the bright flashes in the sky would surely put any fireworks show to shame.
Anyone of these spectacles of God’s handiwork would easily take your breath away. But to witness all three at once was simply mesmerizing. I couldn’t take my eyes off the sky. They could only move from left to right and then back again as I tried my best to soak up this inconceivable showing God was putting on.
It was in this moment that God set the stage and started weaving a lesson in my heart. As I stood their amazed watching God put on a show, I started to notice I was getting bit by mosquitoes. I’m not normally one to just stand around and let myself get bit. Who is? But in this particular moment things were different. I was truly captivated by what I was witnessing. I wasn’t gonna let some tiny pesky mosquitoes take me away from that.
Here’s the kicker and the point that Holy Spirit used to remind me that following Jesus is always worth it. Though mosquitoes are annoying and I would never choose to experience their bitting. The pain and annoyance they caused me did not even compare to the glory God was radiating from the sky that evening.
So it is with following Jesus. He will lead us through many of pains and challenges, that one would never choose on their own (similar to how no one would choose to stand out getting bit by mosquitoes). But compared to what God does in our lives when we wholeheartedly follow and delight in Him, these momentary sufferings do not even begin to compare. They become but little mosquito bites in the face of God’s magnificent glory radiating in our lives.
As we understand this we begin to grasp what Paul meant when he wrote in Romans 8:18 “For I am convinced that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
To be clear, this is not to say the pain we will experience nor the sacrifices we will make are not real, they are. But it is to say, that in comparison to God’s glory and all He will do in our lives as we walk step by step with Jesus leading by our side will be so much more immeasurably great and vast that it will no longer even be worth comparing. No matter the cost, following Jesus is always worth it!
