Learning the Jesus Way of LifeSample

The Hard Stuff

Pray: Jesus, give me the faith to go where you go, do what you do, trust what you say, and love how you love. Today, I commit to following you. Amen.

Following Jesus will make your life better, because you’re walking with Jesus and learning from Jesus. Following Jesus will also make your life harder, because Jesus doesn’t walk inside the lines of our comfort zones, and obedience to Him always requires risk.

Sin, on the other hand, doesn’t have any problem with us being lazy or giving up when things get hard. And there will be days you’re tempted to give up. There will be situations that feel like too much. When everything in you wants to call it quits and retreat back into your old, comfortable way of life—what do you do then?

In today’s reading, Matthew shows us what Jesus did when tragedy struck, His plans were interrupted, and a huge crowd of people was clamoring for His attention.

The chapter begins with the death of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin and the messenger who prepared the way for His ministry. He was put to death, without dignity or respect, because of a prideful king and a bitter queen.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. … Matthew 14:13 NIV

Jesus tried to get away so He could grieve the loss of His cousin, a cousin who He had known and loved for His entire life. Remember, Jesus is human, like us. He felt the pain of losing someone He loved. He experienced the disappointment of a close friend and family member being taken by the unjust actions of a crooked king.

Jesus didn’t ignore the pain. He didn’t stuff the emotions down and pretend like nothing was wrong. He withdrew to a solitary place so He could be with His Father and begin working through His grief.

But when He arrived, instead of a quiet place to be alone, He was met by a crowd of people demanding His attention.

… the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he … Matthew 14:13–14 NIV

These people didn’t show up wanting to know what they could do to help Jesus. They came with their wish lists of what Jesus could do for them.

Some wanted to learn more about the coming of God’s kingdom. Some were curious about whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. Others likely came to experience the supernatural: demons cast out, miracles performed, and illnesses healed.

If you were in Jesus’ shoes, what would you do next? What emotions would fill you?

… he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 NIV

The well of Jesus’ love never runs dry. His patience never runs out. He always has more to give. Because at His very core, He is gentle and humble at heart. Everything He says and does is directed by, defined by, and drenched in unconditional love.

Jesus never sees you as a nag or a nuisance. He sees you through eyes of grace and mercy. The deepest parts of Him are drawn to suffering sinners. Written into His DNA is a desire to meet our demands with His relentless kindness.

This is good news for people like us. Jesus doesn’t turn away when He sees our struggles; instead, He draws close. He has compassion on us. Even when He’s hurting. Even when He’s tired. Even when things don’t go the way He might want them to.

Jesus is interruptible.

You don’t have to email His assistant to get an appointment with Him. You don’t need to call ahead to reserve a table. He doesn’t just allow for interruptions, He invites them.

Matthew lets us know that this healing of the sick wasn’t a 15-minute endeavor—it was an all-day commitment. When evening finally came, the disciples, likely exhausted and ready to call it a day, asked Jesus to send the crowds away.

But Jesus wasn’t done showing these people, and His own disciples, just how much God cares for them. So, He instructs His disciples to fetch some food, and He directs the people to take a seat. He then takes five loaves of bread and two fish, looks up to heaven, gives thanks, and asks His disciples to distribute it to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:20–21 NIV

Jesus is intentional.

He knew exactly what He was doing. It’s not an accident that He wanted His disciples to be the ones handing out the food. Because it was in their hands that the miracle happened. Long after they should have run out, there was still more to give. After all of the people had eaten, Jesus made sure His disciples didn’t have to go home on empty stomachs. All twelve left with a full basket.

When you are walking with Jesus, there will be times where your plans are interrupted, where you feel like you’ve reached the end of yourself, like you have nothing left to give. In those moments, Jesus will do what He always does. He will respond with compassion. He will give you the strength you need to stay on your feet. He will fill you up with so much of Himself that you are spilling over.

Jesus will never use you up and throw you out. He is humble and gentle at heart. The well of His love never runs dry. His patience never runs out. There’s more than enough for suffering sinners and faithful followers. When we follow Jesus, we are never just participants in His plans;we are recipients of His mercy.

Application: Who is ministering to you? Who can you be totally honest with about the hard stuff you’re experiencing? If you don’t have someone, find someone. Talk to a pastor at your church, an older Christian you look up to, or a friend who has some wisdom under their belt. In addition, follow Jesus’ example: Create space in your day to be alone with God. Every day. Tell Him what’s on your mind, bring Him the stress you can’t seem to shake, and trust Him with the difficult emotions you’re carrying. Because He cares for you.