If You Say So, I Will Go; Making the Hard Choices in Life
I saw the emotion written across their faces. And the tears they desperately tried to hold back.
You see, they had been called.
They felt the stirrings in their hearts and witnessed the confirmations fall into place.
Jesus called
And they answered,
“If You say so.”
When Jesus calls you, how will you answer?
When Jesus calls you, how will you answer? #faith #hope #ifyousayso Share on X
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21 ESV
Will it be the first time He calls? The second? Or will you turn away from it completely?
Maybe it’s a new job, a new ministry, a child, a purchase, an act of sacrifice, or maybe it is the call to give your heart to Jesus for the first time.
Will you listen?
Will you answer?
This week I watched my pastor and his wife put aside comfort, ease, and security. They announced their plan to move far away to partner in the planting of a new church. Their move will mean leaving much behind. Deep friendships. A support system for their family. A community that loves and treasures them and their children.
And they did it to follow hard after Jesus. To answer Him with,
“If You say so, we will go.”
As we shed tears and hugged them, each of us gathered together in that room knew beyond the shadow of a doubt God had called them to things beyond what our minds could begin to envision. Things that will write their stories and carve out their legacy. Things that will touch and change lives for the good. Things that will serve as the conduit of God’s life-giving power.
But that doesn’t mean their story will be easy.
Because following Jesus isn’t easy.
But it’s worth it.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. -Proverbs 2:1-5 ESV
There is a myth that tells us that choosing to follow Jesus means that life will be easy. Because we call Him our Father, we think that if we are good children obeying His commands, we can stay out of trouble, away from the hard choices, therefore making life easy.
But that is not the way this world works. There is sin in the world. We are incapable of living without sin and before we get to the other side of the cross, we are living in this world where sin and evil flourish around us, having its direct impact upon us. And when we are in a position to advance the great cause of Jesus, the enemy wants nothing more than to stop us in our tracks. He attacks in hopes of our defeat.
But what the enemy doesn’t get, is that when we give our lives to Jesus and we live in pursuit of Him seeking to share His love, grace, and truth with the world, he will never win. That’s because Jesus wins every time. He has come to give us life. He has overcome the world.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33 NLT
In that overcoming, lay His promises. One of which says that He will make beauty from our ashes (Isaiah 61:3) and another that says He will bring forth good from all the bad and the ugly (Romans 8:28).
And friends, I can tell you I have lived it. I have lived wanting life easy. I have lived following a call and pursuing Jesus, somewhere deep in my heart expecting God to show me favor because of my obedience.
I lived the difficult. I lived the ashes.
But I have also lived to see the beauty rising out of those ashes and to see how God took all the bad and built it into a story unlike any I could ever imagine.
That’s why I can stand behind this family I love so dearly. I can stand behind them and cheer because I know that God is writing an incredible story through them.
One they would never want to miss.
And friends, once your heart is moved by Jesus, He doesn’t let go. He keeps calling. You can avoid it. You can look the other way. You can pretend you don’t feel it.
But you will never find peace.
You will live forever in the land of “What If”.
I don’t think any of us want to find ourselves stuck in that place wondering,
What if …
So to what or where is Jesus calling you?
And what will your answer be?
Will your story be half written with a plot forgotten almost before it’s finished? One that gets dusty on the shelves somewhere because of the poorly written script? Or will you hand it over to the God of the Universe for a story of wonders beyond your imagination. One that will be treasured by the many who come after you?
What will your answer be? In the face of hard choices, will you have the courage to say,
“If You say so, I will go.”
Lord, I thank you for your call on our lives. And the love that calls us out of the ordinary into the extraordinary. You have a story to write through our lives that will transform the lives of many more. May our courage be You. Our ears hear You. Our steps follow You. And may we never forget that following You is so worth every moment. May Your truths and promises be locked in our mind and fuel our hearts and actions. Lord, I pray for Your hedge of protection around our precious friends and upon every person choosing to pursue You. May the enemy’s attempts be thwarted each and every time and may Your peace, hope, love, and comfort reign in our hearts. In Your precious Name I pray. Amen.
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Lori, may we always follow the encouraging advice you share here, and also internalize these verses from God’s Word! Yes, following is so hard. But like you said – so worth it! Blessings from your neighbor at #intentionaltuesdays linkup:)
Hi Kristine,
Thank you so much for visiting today!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
What an encouraging post, Lori!
I love all of the wisdom and the insights you’ve shared today.
And, the verses are so good!
I’m sharing this one all over today.
Hope you have a blessed day~
Melanie
Hi Melanie,
Thank you so much for sharing this post! I pray it touches the hearts of the ones God knows needs the extra courage to follow Him!
Blessings and big hugs,
Lori
A beautiful call, Lori, to give Jesus our hearts in the form of a resounding YES to His will — whatever that may be!
Thank you, Michele! Giving that YES is often scary, but I humbly pray God would use these words to fill just the right people with that courage they need to say it!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Hi Lori! Your post is a needful reminder of the privilege, tension, and victory of following Christ. I’m grateful for your encouraging words that cause me to reflect on my “I will go.” Happy to sit next to you on the #RaRaLinkup today!
Thank you for visiting today, Joy! I love how you phrase that – the privilege, tension, and victory – Amen!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Any where He leads always brings peace, joy and fulfillment.
Thanks for this great reminder Lori, have a super blessed day!
Love
From #WW
Thank you for visiting, Ugochi! I pray your day is filled with blessings as well!!
So true- following Jesus does not give us an easy life, but it’s definitely worth it. Thanks for this reminder to surrender to him- to give him the pen and let him write the story. #LiveFreeThursday
Hi Carly,
Amen! I am praying we all open our hands and surrender that pen to him 🙂 Thank you so much for visiting today!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Love this quote, “I have lived to see the beauty rising out of those ashes and to see how God took all the bad and built it into a story unlike any I could ever imagine.” I feel the same way, Lori! Following Jesus’ call to “Come with Me” is costly, but so very worth the price.
Amen, Sarah! Thank you so much for visiting today! I love it when I see your comments here!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Loved this Lori. Choosing to follow Jesus is not easy…so so true. It’s not easy but oh how rewarding it is. Your pastor and his wife are blessed to have you as friend!
Hi Shannon,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We have been enormously blessed by these special people. I can’t even begin to explain their effect on our lives. The families that they will shepherd down the road are in for a wonderful journey!!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
I don’t ever want my story to be dusty on a shelf. Love that.
I’m so glad you liked that line, Debbie! I most definitely don’t want my story there either!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
“Here I am; send me.” I always hoped I would be able to say and mean those words. I can look back on many times when I have said, “Yes, I will,” but there are also times when I didn’t. And I will always wonder what I missed. What a great reminder for me to read this week, Lori — there are some choices I need to make and you have encouraged me to even more carefully examine them. Have a great day!
Wendy,
Your words are such an affirmation for my soul. I know God sent you today to warm my heart. I always pray that He gives me words and, despite all the noise in my life, sends thoe words right through my fingers to the screen so that they may touch just the people He has specified – the people who need them most. I am so thankful these words were an encouragement to you and thank you so very much for stopping to let me know! I will stop right now and pray for you and the choices you must make!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
THANK YOU, Lori!!!! 🙂
Love this post! Thank you for linking up today.
Suzie,
Thank you so very much for visiting today! I’m so glad you liked it! And thank YOU for hosting LiveFree every week. I have been so blessed by my time there!
I’ll never forget hearing the words “I’ve been called to preach”. I never wanted to be a preacher’s wife, but the Lord changed that for me. When I heard I believe we are meant to plant a church, I wanted to run. But once I said okay, that fear left. It’s not been easy these past 12 years, in fact they have been some of the hardest years I have faced. But you know, I WOULD NOT change them, for anything. The Lord has been so good to our family. Thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursdays.
Wow! I can’t imagine hearing that. It must have shook your world! I don’t think I realized that about your story before! I didn’t realize you had planted a church and were a preacher’s wife! Maybe that is why you have always had a special place in my heart from the very first time I found your blog. I think being the wife of a preacher is tough stuff on so many levels! Now I know how to pray even more specifically, my friend!
Blessings and hugs,
Lori
BTW- I’m taking the plunge and starting a link-up on May 2nd called Moments of Hope. I would love to see you there with the hope you always offer through your writings!
Your words ring such truth to Jesus calling for us. I remember a time in my life when He called and I did not answer. I also remember a time when He called again, and I followed. It was hard, it was difficult and it was the most unforgettable journey I ever experienced. He knows best.
Amen, Michelle! Not easy, but unforgettable! Thanks so much for visiting!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
BTW – I wanted to let you know I am diving in and starting a link-up, Moments of Hope, on May 2nd! I’d love to have you join me!!!
Amen, Lori! He calls us with His love and walks with us each step of the way.
Sweet blessings to you, friend. : )
Hi Crystal! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Sweet blessings back atcha!:-)
Lori
Wonderful post! I am in a place right now where I am being told to wait. And it’s a difficult thing. But going is difficult as well. I rest assured that no matter what, He will be with me!
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Thank you so much, Teresa! Oh, goodness, isn’t the waiting difficult? Ugh! As much as we want to fight it though, I know that in the wait, I have learned so much and grown so much closer to God. Actually, next week my post is a spin-off on being called. How do we not hurry God?
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
BTW – I wanted to let you know I am diving in and starting a link-up, Moments of Hope, on May 2nd! I’d love to have you join me!!!
Such an encouraging post! It is true… following Jesus will not be easy. But it will always be worth it! May we all remember this truth when the days are hard. Glad to have stopped here from Weekend Whispers!
Hi Joanne,
I am so glad you stopped by and were encouraged by this post! I am diving in and starting a link-up here called Moments of Hope, on May 2nd! I’d love to have you join me!!!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Gosh, it’s so easy to get comfortable and not want to be challenged with new beginnings. I love the heart of those who are willing to go anywhere do anything for the gospel. That was the commitment I first made when I decided to follow Christ but sometimes I wonder if my heart is still in that place. I pray that when He calls I will boldly answer, “Here am I, send me”!
Hi Marva 🙂 It can be a scary prayer because almost always He puts us in an uncomfortable place. The uncomfortable is where we most grow, right? There is a song by Downhere I loved during the years we were beginning the adoption process. It was exactly those words, “Here I am, Lord, send me”. It was my anthem – my prayer- my surrender. And, wow, did He send me on a journey! 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting, my friend!
Hugs,
Lori
That must’ve been so difficult to say good-bye to your treasured friends! What a wonderful parting gift you gave them: encouragement for their new path and calling! Thank you for sharing!
Carrie,
Your are so right …It was difficult news to hear and will be even more difficult when we must truly say good-bye. But I know that God will do great things through them! And I know we will keep in touch along the way. Thanks so much for visiting today!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Lori, you must be a fly sitting on the wall inside my home. This is amazing, you write things that hit me when I need it. That is so cool that your pastor’s family has decided to take up they’re calling, to heed the words that are laid on their heart by God. I am sure that they will help many, and it would be so easy to stay where they are safe and loved, they are deciding to set out on an unknown path. I am sure that many will benefit from their hard choice.
In our lives right now we are having to take the hard path, and it’s not a lot of fun, and it’s not easy. But why should someone else always clear the path for us in life? Someone has to travel the hard path, and I take it as a wonderful thing that the Lord is trusting us to clear this path to make it easier for others.
You know how this is, and you haven’t taken the easy path either. Continue to live and write articles that help others to see how we should live and listen for the call.
Nikki,
I am so touched that God is using these words to encourage you. It means so much to me and is such a powerful affirmation that I am hearing and following Him correctly. Thank you, my friend, for that! You know I am in prayer for you and your family. I know that God is going before you on that hard path, but I am asking that He begin to level those mountains one at a time.
Many hugs,
Lori
p.s. Guess what? I’m diving in a launching a link-up of my own. I’m titling it “Moments of Hope” and beginning on May 2nd. I hope you can join me!!!!
Beautiful, Lori. Let’s take up our crosses and follow wherever He leads.
Amen! Our Church has adopted that verse as our motto. Our pastor gives a beautiful image of getting over yourself to get under the cross carrying it wherever He leads! We are known as the church with the cross on its side 🙂
Thanks so much for visiting today and for hosting Thought Provoking Thursday each week. It is such a lovely community!
Lori, I love how you said it is not easy, but that Jesus always wins! It’s not easy seeing a pastor and his family leave that are so cherished, but how exciting for them to answer the Lord’s call and go plant a church. Thanks so much for sharing the encouragement of how to answer when we hear the Lord’s call! Glad to see you link up with #SocialButterflySunday and hope to see you link up again this week! Blessings to you my friend 🙂
God is going to use them for amazing things, that I am sure! Thank you so much for hosting Social Butterfly Sunday each week! I love stopping by! I wanted to let you know that I am diving in, too, and launching a link-up. I’m calling it Moments of Hope and it will begin on Monday, May 2nd. I’d love to have you join in!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori