Endure the Hassle

Traveling had become a necessity in order for me to carry out the work God has given me to do. Thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, my opportunities to travel are temporarily halted. Thankfully, I’ve still been able to teach at conferences virtually, experiencing my workshops by taping them in advance, imagining the people in the seats. Best case scenario for now is the Zoom meetings. At least I have the chance of seeing some smiling faces, if the attendees turn on their cameras. The isolation of the quarantine makes me harken back to how very much I love to travel on the one hand, but when I think of that, I am quickly drawn to remember the realities of the hassles involved with travel on the other.

For example, thanks to 911, there was usually a substantial line at every airport’s security checkpoint through which I had to navigate. There I unpacked my neatly packed electronics, endured the humiliation of being compared to my driver’s license photo, and practically stripped down to prove I’m not a terrorist. On the other side of the scanners, I redressed and repacked, and then began my trek through the terminal to find my gate, which was usually the last one down the hall. Once on the plane, I squeezed down the aisle, found my seat, stuffed my carry-on into the overhead bin and my other stuff under the seat in front of me, and squeezed myself into the cramped space that would be my living quarters for the next few hours, hoping the seat next to me would either remain empty or be occupied by a thin individual who showered that morning.

I could go on about the hassles of the flights themselves, of getting off the plane, of praying that my luggage was doing the same, and of locating the right shuttle or the person designated to pick me up from the airport, but you get the picture. I endured the hassle because the rewards of doing what I do – teaching the Word of God or pouring into the lives of writers – were always worth every airport-airplane-shuttle-suitcase-security-line moment.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (NIV). It was not convenient or comfortable for Jesus to give His life for us. The cross was a hassle, yet He endured it for us.

Whether you are isolated in quarantine or traveling the globe, what hassles will you endure in order to carry out the call God has on your life? Whatever the hassle, endure it. Working for the Kingdom is worth every moment.

Listen: Ponder over Hebrews 12:2 by reading it aloud at least 3 times.

Reflect: How are you being led right this moment to “fix your eyes on Jesus”?

Pray: Tell God exactly where your current hassles are in your life. Ask God to focus your eyes and heart away from the hassles you are currently facing. Now ask Him where He wants you to look instead.