Taking the narrow road

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

The road less taken is chosen by its risky traveller not simply because of what he expects to get at the end of it; he doesn’t self-righteously assume that he’s headed to a better place than those who took the more popular road. He chose the less traveled road for its own hidden gems.

Whatever he hopes to reach at the end would be lost if he put too much hope in that goal, because too much hope eventually turns into expectation and expectation is very different from hope. Whatever “reward” sits at the end of his road can only be received through grace, so he wouldn’t be able to receive it if he expected it as if it were his reward for reaching the end.

He is “saved in hope”, not in expectation. That subtle difference between hope and expectation is what makes all the difference. And that’s the main difference between the one who takes the road less traveled by and the one who takes the popular road: those who take the popular road take it because of what it promises. But when those promises end up being false promises, they regret their decsisions and only by the grace of God can they find their way back to the narrow way. Lord knows, if it weren’t for that grace I would be on the road of false promises as well.

Do what’s right. Come what may.

You see, it’s not in our nature to seek out the easiest way. It’s in our nature to do what’s right. That’s why when we do what’s right, even though it hurts, even though we wonder why we even bothered to do the right thing while everyone else around us seems to be taking the easy way, in our heart of hearts we know that we are acting in accordance with our nature. We were made by the ultimate Good One, Perfect Goodness, and he put his image in us so we have the desire to do what’s right. He’s not the ultimate easy way. He’s not the easy life. He is Goodness, and goodness is often difficult. The hardest way and the right way are usually the same.

Right now I’m stuck in traffic, probably late for work. I’m going through the hardest time of my life probably, the toughest year of my life. But I’ll tell you, I’ve never felt closer to God. I’ve never felt so right even though I’m hurting to my very core, and I hate it because it makes me feel self-righteous! But there’s nothing in me that says I’m going the wrong way, that I’m on the wrong road.

I just keep pushing and pushing. How badly I don’t want to get up and work at a stupid under the table job, or even get up in the morning for that matter and face the reality that is my life. But everything in it is right. I’m not on the wrong path. In fact, I know that I’m on my way, and these are just growing pains. These are just the steep inclines that have already been mapped out on this path. They said this road would be tough. That’s why most people don’t take it.

I know I still have my faults and weaknesses, but I’m on my way and growing transformation hurts. If it doesn’t hurt then you’re not getting closer to God.