“ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily                         and follow me” (Luke 9:23, ESV).

     On the other hand, I don’t enjoy driving on snowy streets. Twenty-four percent of weather-related vehicular accidents occur on snowy, slushy, or icy roads. One-quarter of all slips and falls take place on slick parking lots.

     Many of us hold a similar level of ambivalence when it comes to our relationship with God. We are like a four year-old holding our mother’s hand while crossing a busy motorway. Upon hearing the sound of the ice cream truck, our inclination is to break away. The yearning for a popsicle clash with mom’s protective instincts to hold on more tightly.

     Such is the struggle of following Jesus. The longing to forge our own path often comes into conflict with the direction in which Jesus asks us to follow him. The result becomes a classic battle of wills. We reverse the words of Jesus: “Not your will, but mine be done.”

     The point of contention arises from an unfounded belief that God may not always have our best interest in mind. Or from an unsubstantiated doubt that God may not always know what is best for us. We convince ourselves that we know better than God does.

     Yet like the four-year-old attempting to free himself from his mother’s hand, crossing the street at rush hour to buy a popsicle from the vendor who is known for high prices is just not a good idea. It is a tough realization for many of us to accept. But we aren’t as informed or enlightened as we think.

     Personally, the worst decisions I have made were the result of my stubborn reluctance to deny my own inclinations. Conversely, the best decisions I have made ultimately led me to some amazing results because I chose to follow in my heart what I knew was the right way. The Jesus way.