Read Mark 10:32-34
Fear and Hopelessness or Surrender with Victory? You Choose!
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and his disciples and other followers were following him. His disciples were astonished with all Jesus had been doing while some followers were afraid.
Doesn’t that sound like how we often respond. One day we read Scripture or something happens in our life and we are astonished and amazed at the mighty work of God’s hands. When these things happen we are full of Hope.
But then we have days that something happens and we feel pain, rejected, alone; and it’s during these times that Jesus asks us to trust him. But instead we are filled with fear and anxiety.
When fear grips us, hope often dwindles. Getting past fear requires faith and trust and as soon as we give the devil permission in just one area of our thoughts, then we are susceptible to giving him control into a world of intense fear and irrational thinking and actions. We spiral downward spiritually ever so increasingly fast.
It’s during these mixed emotions that Jesus reminds his disciples that he is the son of man and is about to face the most horrific time of his life. Remember, as the son of man, Jesus is 100% human. Yes he is also God but he set aside his Heavenly Godly nature so he could become just like us and suffer just like us so he could relate to our feelings of joy and fear. So he could experience all our feelings and become our comfort towards victory in newness of life.
Jesus said he would:
-be delivered over to the chief priests and teachers of the law.
– be condemned to death.
– be handed over to the Gentiles who would mock him, spit on him, flog him, and even kill him.
– but 3 days later, Jesus would rise from the dead into newness of life for him and for us.
As Jesus shared of his upcoming death, he reminded his disciples that victory was forthcoming. I feel a little ashamed to try and even compare my suffering with what Jesus had to go through. I complain about my misfortunes like Jesus doesn’t understand my pain. But he does!
So what are the horrific circumstances you are living in today? You have 2 choices:
1. Let’s Satan feed you lies and beat you up into fear and hopelessness, or
2. Surrender it all to Jesus and wait for the victory and newness of life that is forthcoming.
Those are your only two options! Choose one.
