Luke 14:25-33
When we follow Jesus, we are asked to trust Him, take up our cross, and surrender everything to Him. This includes our relationships and saying goodbye to our past. The cost is real, causing suffering, pain, and persecution, but what we gain in Christ is far greater than anything we leave behind.
I was introduced to Jesus in high school at a running camp on Catalina Island. I was immediately captivated, and Jesus had my heart. But I was a new believer with no direction, and I did not yet understand the depth of His grace or the steadfastness of His love.
After college, I met a guy and his family who modeled God’s unconditional love. Until then, my life had been marked by abandonment, verbal abuse, and rejection. My mother had always struggled to love herself or anyone else. When I publicly proclaimed my faith, her hostility only increased, and for years she belittled my beliefs and tried to undermine my relationship with Christ.
I spent years trying to earn my mother’s love, only to discover that the love my heart truly needed had already been given through Jesus. His love is unwavering, limitless, and freely given by grace.
As my relationship with God grew stronger, I had to count the cost. Like the king Jesus describes, who carefully considers going to war, I had to decide what my relationship with Christ was worth. I knew I could not continue in a relationship that continually pulled me away from Him, so by God’s grace, I chose to end that unhealthy relationship.
What I expected to bring heartbreak instead brought peace. God faithfully filled the place in my heart that longed for a mother’s love with His perfect love, and He surrounded me with a godly family who encouraged me and helped shape my faith.
Following Jesus cost me a relationship with my mom that I desperately wanted, but God knew better what I needed than I did. I gained the assurance of a Father who will never leave me, a Savior whose love never fails, and the peace that comes from trusting Him completely. The cost of discipleship is real, but Christ is worth every sacrifice. He will fill the holes left behind with something far better.
What has following Christ cost you, and how has Christ responded?
Claire Williams
Executive & Welcome Coordinator