True North: Going Through Hell for HeavenExemplo

Beware, Satan will use relationships to tempt you to give up by tempting people you love and trust to tear and wear you down. He is vicious. He doesn’t fight fair. He will attack where you are most vulnerable: relationships and temptation. We will talk about temptation on Day 5, yet our relationships are what can hurt us back into bondage, resignation, and defeat. Your relationships will be something that you will have to reassess as you move into full devotion to Jesus Christ. I will tell you, from my own journey, that this ranks as one of the hardest battles.

At the time of writing this reading plan, I am going through an extremely painful struggle. It is a trial that breaks my heart and brings a lot of fatigue. I have prayed many times for God to intercede. I have asked Him if there is something I need to learn. If so, He would reveal it soon. Then came a revelation! The passage of Matthew 7:9-11, in which Jesus asks, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?” came up in different places and times. Our Father wanted me to know something important about a Father’s desire to give good gifts to his children. I was asking for the pain to be alleviated, and He knows the immenseness of it—yet the cause of my suffering involves another person’s free will. God will not intercede in their free will to bring me relief. I am having to endure unavoidable suffering as a result of another person’s decision(s). Yet He revealed that I could ask for joy in the face of the suffering, regardless of the outcome. He is a good Father and wants to give us what we ask and need. Yet we need to ask for the things He can give and do for us that is not dependent on another’s free will to be removed or altered for our own sake.

We know from Scripture that Jesus lost many followers (disciples) on His journey because they couldn’t/wouldn't overcome their own beliefs and convictions. Jesus was calling them out of themselves and the bondage of their rituals, religion, and false beliefs into more. More freedom. More effectiveness. More relationship. More of Him and His truthfulness. However, “more” would mean a sacrifice of their own comforts, position, status, finances, possessions, etc. The question Jesus’ actions and invitation asked was “Am I enough?” For many, the answer was “no,” and they departed from Him. The question isn’t whether you are enough for your relationships and your relationships enough for you. Rather, the question is whether Jesus is enough for you, even when you are being hurt by those you love. Take some time to think about this question, “Is Jesus enough for you?” Pray through it and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you about the question. It isn’t a matter of if you will have to answer the question, it’s WHEN.