13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Dear God, is this gate for our life here on earth, or is it for what comes after we die? I have always taken it to mean life after death, but I wonder if Jesus wasn’t talking more about the life we live now rather than the life to come. If it is about life here on earth, what is the “life” to which Jesus refers, and what does it look like in someone who has found it?
I am convinced that “life” does not mean financial success, perfect children, perfect marriage, perfect career, etc. One of the ironies I saw in the lives of a couple of men who recently died was that they were estranged from their children even though many, many people looked up to them as men who were humble and truly loved you. And I agree with the perception of them as lovers of you. I believe they found the small gate. I believe they walking the narrow path. But somewhere along the way, Satan ripped their children from them. Not that their children are bad people now, but somehow the relationships were destroyed.
That is probably my biggest frustration about trying to walk the narrow path: Why don’t my life circumstances turn out prettier? Why do I still struggle with personal failings? Why do I still hurt my children? Why do I still hurt my wife? Even last night, I didn’t mean to, but I ended up hurting my daughter by telling her teacher something I suppose I shouldn’t have. She was embarrassed, and I think that event, in isolation, wouldn’t have bothered her so much, but I think it was built on other things that annoy her about me to the point where she was really hurt.
Father, I am sold out and committed to this path even though it isn’t always pretty. I believe the life you have for me on the path is filled with a peace that I cannot find on the other path. I also believe that the path is about submitting my life circumstances to you. At the same time, I am sure that you do not intend for this path to cause rifts in my relationships. I think that is where Satan attacks us because I am on the path. So help me to be aware of Satan and please bind Satan and protect all of us from his plans and attacks. I am frustrated that he has so much success in throwing little wrenches in my life. Please protect me not from trials, but from the sins I am prone to commit.
Emails to God 