A common phrase used by coaches in sports, careers, marriage, life.  

We’ve been blessed this week to spend time with two wonderful families that God placed in our path last year.  I love the extension of our family that these families represent and I pray we do the same for them.  The laughter.  The intense corn hole matches.  The praying.  The love that is received and given.  What a blessing.

As we spent time together I became acutely aware of the dramatically different paths we have taken as families to land where we are today.  One couple, super successful executives (now retired) with one of the largest retailers in the world.  Another, the developer of a successful HVAC company and some other offshoots that fed theirs and many other families. And then our family’s trek to these moments.  These moments of joy and togetherness are the result of hours, days, years and decades of head down, dog hard work and internal disciple.  The prize lay and laid all around us.  The prize was and is the journey.  The prize is the joy that the journeys deliver.

So the message of the varied life paths that led us together resonated with me that “there are no shortcuts.”  Too often we celebrate the accolades that are the result of the disciplined journey, when the reality is the praise really should be in the systematic steps taken each day.  Steps of love.  Steps of learning.  Steps of gratitude.  Steps of tenacity.  Steps of commitment.  And above all, steps of faith seeking closer and closer relationship with Christ.

I have a good friend who ran in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  As he and I have spoken about this, what strikes me is the awareness that he logged thousands of miles, alone with a vision, a goal, a gift, only maximized by hours upon hours of rapidly forcing one foot in front of the other for the glory of a few moments of thousands cheering the results of exceptional ability manifested through discipline and determination.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 (AMP)

I marvel at people who have had a close and personal relationship with Jesus their entire life.  They are, unfortunately, the exception rather than the rule.  You see, Jesus offers himself as our Lord and Savior.  Freely given but with magnificent cost.  The release of all burden and doubt replaced by the gift of love, grown and revealed through ever increasing intimate relationship with him through discipline and surrender.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

There are no shortcuts to personal relationship with Jesus.    There is immediate assurance of salvation, if only we ask and invite Jesus into our whole heart.  There is a life path that leads to eternity.  Jesus desires to have intimate relationship with us.  Intimacy that comes through understanding.  Understanding that comes through seeking.  Seeking that is answered in his Father’s Word.  Relationship that manifests itself through prayer and time set aside for growth through discipline.  

You’ve got this.