You Remain - My Personal Wrestling Match With GodSample

Is Jesus Enough?

“Jesus take the wheel…” Yes! Great song and a great posture to start off our day with! The problem comes when our demands are, “Now Jesus, take a quick left up here at the next light because I have some things to do.” Somewhere on my journey this has become my subtle prayer, and I’ve forgotten who the King of the Kingdom actually is. Indeed, we are invited to ask for things specifically, agreeing together in Jesus’ name, but our posture in the process makes all the difference.

For the past four years, my wife, Hilary, and I have made a pact with Jesus that we will not open any proverbial doors, but when Jesus opens them, then we will walk through boldly because He is with us and leading us. This started as we began to realize that if indeed Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of God and we are treasured citizens therein, then we were going to trust that the King knows what’s best for His Kingdom. Think about it, in what ways have you tried to open doors (in work, relationships, etc.) to get your way?

For these past four years this posture has been put to practice in our daily lives through both the grand and mundane. Daily we still catch ourselves opening doors for God, but we are getting quicker at letting Him do His job—whether in my cancer journey, music career interactions, financial needs, lifting up the name of Jesus, etc.

My problem is that I have tried to play the role of king all too often, as if I know what’s best for the Kingdom of God. I’ve tried so hard for so many years to work for God, but in an advisory role. Every time my soul gets tired, I can pretty much pin it back to me trying to get my way and manipulate my circumstances to get what I want (even if it’s for God). For example, my whole life I have tried to bang down the door for evangelism. I am learning that this is not my role. Our role, like Paul, is to ask the King to open doors for conversations that lift up Jesus, and He does it all the time!

So the invitation for us is to be found seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and He seems to work everything else out. Let’s be aware of His working and moving, and follow Him there!

-TIM