It Takes Grit to Follow a Narrow Path

“Not for the faith of heart” is a phrase often used in our American culture. A topic one morning in my men’s small group we dove into. Pouring over the book of 2 Corinthians, we discussed the trials the Apostle Paul and his companions faced (2 Corinthians 11:23-33): terrifying shipwrecks, beatings, snake bites, to name a few, not to mention the jailings. The spiritual warfare he and those who walked with him endured seems unbearable. Several nervous comments hung around the table that morning regarding the relative ease we have today in comparison. We did find some common ground with those who walked with the early apostles. Even though we might not be shipwrecked or locked in a jail cell, we sometimes find ourselves fighting for the faith we profess. Times may change, but the well-worn, narrow path of following Christ remains the same. We do live in a time of some stormy spiritual seas. The entrapment of sin, which can leave some feeling locked away in a cell, is all around us.

After listening to the men in my group discuss the life of a disciple today, it hit me; no, it overwhelmed me. I felt a strong compulsion to begin writing on this topic, whether a blog, an article, or maybe dive into writing a book. I had to get my thoughts out.  The burden to help inspire disciples of Jesus to continue, regardless of the storms, sat heavily on my heart like a coach encouraging players to stay together and defeat an enemy. My hope is to encourage every disciple facing conflict, frustration, confusion, or discouragement to stay on that narrow path and follow King Jesus. A not-so-common tenacity or “grit” can exist in every follower of Jesus but is sometimes hard to find today.

Following and trusting Jesus can challenge us to our core, whether in the middle of tough relational conflict, watching a loved one fall into sin, or a dear friend choosing culture over biblical truth. Intellectually, we can say yes, but we must know that the path of following Christ requires more than just a raised hand, head nod, or eloquent words. We must find a conviction, a toughness, a “grit” that drives us. A gritty conviction that says that no matter how I might feel about something or the pain from relationships, I trust the Word of God. Regardless of my feelings, I will abide in Christ, work through conflict, and fight for oneness in Christ that the lost world needs to see in the Church.

I fully acknowledge the strength and faith we need must come from the Holy Spirit and knowing God will do His part to do that. My intent here is not to swing us into some works-based salvation argument. What I am trying to say is that when I survey the landscape of Christianity, I see a lack of grit. I see people who profess Christ yet could never make the journey with Paul. The first sign of conflict or disappointment they would turn around or go back to something safer and more comfortable. The question that nags at me is, where did those who walked with Paul find the conviction and grit needed to keep walking?  How did they stay the course when it became hard?  Where did that deep conviction come from, and why do many who claim Christ as Lord seem to lack it today? The Church today must desire and live with the same grit those early disciples had.

So, where does “grit” come from? I believe we can find it from three specific truths.

Truth #1: Knowing What He Does.

Whether with Paul 2000 years ago or disciples of Jesus today, the Holy Spirit does His part… Always. When we abide in Him, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength, wisdom, and help we need. Jesus tells us in John 16 that He will leave so the Holy Spirit, the helper will come. Help us in what? He helps us in accomplishing the mission Jesus gave. He helps us remain faithful. He helps by giving us the strength and conviction we need. He guides us down a path that Jesus said would be hard. So, for us to have the grit needed to weather storms, we need to abide in Him. We must lean into our relationship with God, knowing the Holy Spirit will give us what we need to continue.  Being connected to the vine and filled with the Spirit gives us the supernatural strength and courage needed.

Truth #2: Knowing Who He Is.

When Barnabas and John Mark left, Paul could have easily quit and went back to tent making, filled with disappointment. I believe Paul set his focus on who Christ is, rather than the loss he most likely struggled with. Knowing and keeping Jesus in his rightful place as the King anchors us in this world. Jesus not only is the authority by which we share the Gospel but the one who has given us the authority to share in His name. You or I do not live out a Gospel because of some man-made church structure or denominational creed. When the mission gets hard and the person, we have invested so much in decides to give up or chase the world, we do not quit. We continue because of who HE is. He is the Resurrected King who paid the price for our sin and overcame death. We do this because it is for King Jesus. I can dig deep and find a grit, a toughness, because I know who He is and what He did for me.

Truth #3: Knowing How to live it out.

When I feel confused or lost, because the Great Commission seems too hard, I can look at the life of Christ and see a model for how to remain close to He and the Father. I can trust the process of HOW to make disciples regardless of what goes on around me. Paul continued to encourage others to imitate him as he had imitated Christ. We too must focus on imitating. Paul had a confidence in making disciples because he imitated Christ. There was no reinvention of the process. They walked out what the Master had modeled. We too must imitate the greatest disciple maker to ever walk the earth. This brings confidence and conviction in knowing that in the toughest times, what we are doing is right, and we are obedient to the King by following His process.

My men’s group that day also reflected on the life of Paul and the other disciples. What must it have been like for them? The clothing, technology, and modes of transportation might have changed, but they were people. We found encouragement in the similarities—people facing the same problems of the human condition that can drown us in doubt or ensnare us in sin.

Facing the broken world and walking the narrow path takes grit. When you are struggling to believe that following Jesus is right or trusting the hard truths of scripture is what you should do, keep walking. You can do it! Abide deeply in the Spirit, remember the price King Jesus paid, and trust His process. Keep walking the narrow path knowing, regardless of how steep the trail or dark the forest might seem; He is with you; He knows the way; He’s the one that cut that first trail in for us to follow.

This post originally appeared at: It Takes Grit to Follow a Narrow Path – Relational Discipleship Network (rdn.org)