"We need to understand, church, that the call to being a follower of Christ isn’t to forego grief, pain, strife or difficulty, but to understand that our calling and our feelings can live together in healthy suspension."
Life throws curveballs. Sometimes, just when we need to retreat and recharge, the demands of life and the needs of others come crashing in. This was certainly true for Jesus in Matthew 14. He was grieving the loss of John the Baptist, yet he still made time to heal the sick and comfort his terrified disciples.
It would have been easy for Jesus to stay on the mountaintop and focus on his own pain. But he chose to love others, even when it was inconvenient. He shows us that love doesn't keep a schedule. It doesn't wait for the perfect moment or the ideal circumstances. Love acts, even when it's hard.
"It may be inconvenient timing for us, but that doesn’t change that we’re still called to love others in the middle of it. In the middle of our challenges; schedules; difficulties and perceived priorities - we are called to love first and that isn’t always easy."
This week, let's challenge ourselves to follow Jesus's example. Let's look for opportunities to show love, even when it's not convenient. Even when we're tired, hurting, or overwhelmed. Because true love, as 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us, is patient and kind. It doesn't insist on its own way. It endures all things.
How can you show love this week, even when it's inconvenient?
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