How Much More

"What He's asking us to do is let go of our need to control the progress."

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

THE WAY IS NARROW. We don’t know how narrow. There really is no way out. Are we trapped or grateful? Impatience makes us feel trapped. It causes bad decisions. Can we really endure what it will take in order to get there? “There” being the freedom, the healing, the beautiful garden we seek.

The familiar psalm reads that we WALK (a forward motion) THROUGH (in one side and out the other) the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). It doesn’t say how long the valley is, nor any other obstacles in it, but we know from the previous verse that we’re on the path of righteousness and God put us there for His name’s sake. WHO WE ARE and HOW WE’RE DOING reflects on His reputation.

He spoke this way to Israel in the prophets. Though they were in sin and had turned away from Him, He rescued them because no one would look at the God of Israel and shake their heads. He even went so far as to refuse them the right to seek any other rescue. No, He would do it, and the world would know He was God (Ezekiel 20:32,44).

“And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 20:44)

“So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7)

The length of the path, the size of the gate, the thorns that threaten to choke the harvest, the wolf prowling along the valley floor, and any shadows that stretch all around us are not threats to Him. He isn’t surprised by them, frustrated, nor without victory. What He IS doing is leading us safely to freedom. Here is Psalm 91:13 where we’re walking amongst dangers but are trampling them underfoot. And Psalm 23:5 where we’re seated at the table that the Lord our Shepherd has placed there for us, in the presence of the enemy. And 2 Timothy 1:7 which tells us we’re not given a spirit of fear but the Holy Spirit who is love, power, and a sound mind.

God’s got all the edges covered from our walking to our talking to our peace of mind. What He’s asking us to do is to let go of our need to control the progress and to instead, like Israel when they entered the Promised Land, let Him fight the battle. Do you see it? He’s fought the battle already. The lies may circle around us but we’re with Him in the Light, and we see the way. He is our confidence (Proverbs 3:26). He is our defense (Psalm 89:18).

“For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.” (Psalms 89:18)

I described walking out of panic and fear and into peace as walking in mid-air. This analogy has grown in me since then. I am even more dependent on Jesus, my feet in His footsteps, my hands in my pockets because I know nothing I can do will fix this. I can hack at the trees to carve a doorway out, but I will only get out through the narrow gate that He has prepared for me; and it seems crazy, when you find yourself in that place of rescue, to do nothing but trust. It’s also incredibly freeing because there’s no more blame. I don’t have to take up the burden of blame. I’m not at fault in God’s vision. I don’t have to fear saying the wrong thing. Even if I slip up in my confession, get angry and explode, He is not changing His plans for me nor taking back His forgiveness.

I said this before, and I’ll say it again. But He loves the fallen angels whose entire goal is to torment man. Ask them why, and they don’t know the answer, just that anger and violence consume them. So if God’s love runs that deep, if He loves the angelic beings He created that sinned against Him and steal, kill, and destroy us, then HOW MUCH MORE does He love mankind, made in His image and after His likeness? I’ll tell you how much, enough to become one of them and give up all He was in order to gain us back. Jesus was born as a baby who knew nothing, not His name, not His glory, not His virgin birth. He only knew Mary, His mother, and Joseph, His earthly father. He had to grow up, the Scripture says (Luke 2:52). He was thirty when He was ready to bring us the kingdom of God, and for three years, think of how short a time that is, walked amongst us with the end of His life already written. He came in order to die, and it was horrible and cruel. But love put Him there to do what only God could do, create the doorway into the green pasture where the living waters flow for all to come and drink.

He regrets nothing, not one nail, not one hateful comment at His expense. He forgave a thief who deserved to die on the cross and a man who murdered the church He’d created. With this in our vision, we aim for the narrow place and keep walking. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

“But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.” (Psalms 94:22)

Photo by Dominik Bednarz on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com