Part of your journey with Jesus will bring you to the bittersweet realization that you are no longer in control. In our salvation, God accepts responsibility for us by adopting us as his children and makes us holy and blameless through Christ’s sacrifice. Our soul was purchased on the cross, and the receipt for that purchase was discovered in the empty tomb three days later. 

Because of that purchase, we no longer identify with ourselves or adhere to the culture’s motto, “do what makes you happy.” No, the life of a saint is about giving up our rights and doing what pleases our heavenly Father. And because God has transformed us into new creations through salvation, whatever pleases him is going to please us at our core.

The best part of giving up your rights is realizing that you are not in control (which relieves a lot of pressure unless you are a control freak like myself). You have no control over what the future holds or the trials he allows in your life. Your job is to focus on him, remain faithful to where he has placed you, and allow nothing to interfere. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you will understand how light Jesus’ burden really is.

Let me end with this: our lives as humans are like a feather in the wind. The feather is entirely dependent on the wind for movement. If we listen carefully, the Spirit’s gentle whisper will lead us where God sovereignly directs our lives. Our job is to give ourselves the opportunity to listen to that voice through silent prayer and reading God’s word, and to be faithful stewards who bear fruit wherever he has placed us, particularly as spiritual leaders in our families. God’s job is to mature us so that we can bear more fruit as we go through trials and spend time with him. 

“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever” – Westminster Confession

Pastor Chance