Matthew 16:24 — Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
I used to think spiritual growth would feel more dramatic.
Like I’d wake up one morning with more discipline.
More courage.
More patience.
More faith.
Instead, most growth has felt painfully ordinary.
It’s choosing my words carefully when I’m frustrated.
It’s showing up when I’d rather stay home.
It’s taking the next faithful step when I can’t see the next ten.
If I’m honest, that’s a little disappointing.
I like breakthroughs.
But God often works through processes.
Maybe that’s why Jesus didn’t simply call people to believe in Him.
He called them to follow Him.
And following Jesus has always been a daily decision.
He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.”
That’s not just one big moment of surrender.
It’s a thousand small ones.
Maybe that’s why Peter encourages me so much.
He was always running into his own limitations.
Sometimes everyone could see them.
Sometimes only Jesus could.
Yet Jesus never seemed discouraged by Peter’s weaknesses.
He simply kept calling him forward…
After failure.
After fear.
After misunderstanding.
That’s the way God works.
He rarely changes us all at once.
He shapes us one faithful step at a time.
The goal isn’t perfection overnight.
It’s transformation over time.
That’s good news for people like us.
We know where we’re inconsistent.
We know where we’re still growing.
But the Gospel isn’t the story of capable people impressing God.
It’s the story of a faithful Savior transforming willing people who keep saying “yes.”
So instead of focusing on all the ways you wish you were different…
Ask yourself one simple question:
What’s the next faithful step Jesus is asking me to take?
Then take it.
Because every act of surrender is another step toward becoming more like Him.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- What is one area of your life where Jesus is asking you to surrender your own way and follow His?
- Instead of focusing on how far you have to go, what is the next faithful step you can take today?
- How have you seen God use ordinary, everyday obedience to shape your character over time?
