When You Love Someone Who Can’t Come With You

Everyone who follows Jesus eventually encounters a tension; a very painful tension. What do you do when your faith is growing ahead of the people you love, even the people you love the most? Sometimes, we have to let go of hoping that a friend or family member can stay with us on the journey, and give ourselves permission to move ahead of them. Sometimes we even risk the possibility that if we go where God is taking us, they may walk away altogether. This week we were reminded by Luke 9.51-62 that Jesus himself faced this: people who promised to follow him anywhere, but weren't really prepared for what that would mean. Some friends rejected him outright, even leaving him with nowhere to stay. There were times when he invited people, "follow me" and they said, "Yes, but ...". This message is an assurance of two experiences in the life of a disciple: sometimes it will hurt, but it will always, always, be worth relinquishing control, in the long run. 

Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 29 June 2025