In 2004, British actors Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman decided to ride their motorcycles from London to New York City.
They documented the entire thing and then created a show that they called Long Way Round. Interestingly, the program contained very little footage detailing their ride across Europe or North America. Instead, it focused on their struggle to cross Mongolia and eastern Russia, which was the most difficult part of their journey.
Several times, they considered quitting or skipping particularly tough sections, but then refused. They knew that, for the journey to be complete, they had to ride all of it. The destination was important, but so too was how they got there. In the end, because of what they learned and how they grew, they found that the difficult sections were the best and most memorable parts.
When it comes to spiritual things, it is easy to think destination. Most people believe that faith is simply about going home, but that is only half of the story. The journey is important too. Jesus proves that right at the start of his ministry.
In Matthew 4:1-11, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He is faced with three temptations, each of which, at their core, say, “There is no need to suffer. Here is a short cut that can get you the end result.” At each point, Jesus refuses and commits himself to the much more difficult path of self-sacrifice, service and the cross.
It should not surprise us, then, that Jesus’ first sermon starts off by saying, “Blessed (or “well off”) are the poor in spirit… those who mourn… the meek… those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… the peacemakers… the persecuted and the insulted” (Matthew 5:1-11).
These people are blessed, not because their lives are easy, but because, by God’s power, they have taken their hardships and used them for something good. Their troubles have caused them to grow and have taught them lessons that could be gained in no other way.
I do not know what you are facing today, but I do know this: there are no short cuts. Trying to avoid pain and hardship only makes things worse. However, when we learn to walk with and trust God, our troubles can become our blessings.
Godliness is found when we commit to the long way round.
