Stock up on Affirmation

In my last post we looked at how Jesus' way was the way of the cross, and being a disciple for sure means following on the same kind of course. That's not easy, and Jesus didn't try and dress it up to make it look more appealing.

Yet God doesn't leave us without resources for such a difficult journey. The very next episode is the transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13).  This extraordinary event goes beyond what is normal, and note how within it are the affirming words of v7. Apart from anything else, it seems that at this point Jesus was stocked up with affirmation from his heavenly Father, affirmation that he was indeed on the right track.

When we have to face a difficult episode God doesn't leave us stranded on our own, but drops things in that enables us to keep going through the circumstances. It might be a 'mountaintop' experience, or it might be words spoken to us even through another person, but somehow God will get through that He is with us. Such a supernatural lift might be just what we need to continue on the hard course and not deviate onto the easier options.