Are You Willing to Pay the Price?
Faithful is He who has called you, and faithful is He who will do it.
In today’s world, believers often face a paradox. The image of faith we’re encouraged to project—one of wealth, stability, and excellence—sometimes clashes with the reality of our struggles. Yet, it is precisely through these struggles that God’s faithfulness shines the brightest. True faith isn’t measured by the absence of trials but by the perseverance to trust God when everything else seems to fall apart.
The Cost of Following Christ
Jesus himself made it clear that following Him would come at a cost:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
To take up our cross means to embrace the challenges, sacrifices, and even suffering that come with living a life devoted to God. It’s not a path of ease, but one of surrender, trust, and obedience.
For many, the cost is tangible: strained relationships, financial hardships, or societal rejection. For others, the price is internal: surrendering pride, comfort, or control. Whatever the form, the journey of faith demands that we place God’s promises above our present circumstances.
Faith in the Midst of Lack
It’s easy to encourage others when life is smooth and blessings abound. But what about those moments when we lack what the world deems essential—wealth, health, or stability? These are the moments when our faith speaks the loudest. It’s not about having it all together; it’s about trusting God when it feels like everything is falling apart.
Throughout Scripture, we see countless examples of God’s people walking in faith despite their lack:
• Abraham trusted God’s promise of descendants while he was childless.
• Joseph clung to God’s dreams for his life while languishing in prison.
• David praised God while running for his life from King Saul.
• Paul declared God’s sufficiency even as he endured beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment.
In each of these situations, God’s faithfulness was revealed not in the absence of struggle but through it. Their lack became a platform for God’s overflow.
Overflow in the Life of the Believer
The beauty of walking by faith is that what God does in us becomes an overflow for others. When we trust Him in the midst of our struggles, our lives become a testimony to those watching. They may not understand what they see, but they recognize something different—a peace that defies circumstances, a joy that isn’t rooted in possessions, and a hope that can’t be shaken.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5)
This overflow isn’t about material abundance but about spiritual abundance. It’s the ability to encourage others, not because of what we have, but because of Who we trust. It’s a faith thing—a deep-rooted confidence in God’s promises that transcends what we currently see.
The Challenge
Are you willing to pay the price to follow Christ? Are you willing to trust Him when the path is unclear, when the provision seems insufficient, and when the weight of the cross feels too heavy?
Faith isn’t about perfection or having all the answers. It’s about pressing forward, believing that what God has promised will come to pass. It’s about lifting others even when we feel weak, trusting that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
So, let us walk the path of faith with courage, knowing that God’s plan is always worth the cost. The struggles we endure today will not only deepen our relationship with Him but also inspire those around us to seek the same faith and trust.
Faithful is He who has called you, and faithful is He who will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
The question remains: Are you willing to pay the price?
