There’s one Super Bowl commercial that still has us talking. Most of us can’t even remember what the advertisement was for, but we remember that jaw dropping line “it won’t be easy, but it will be amazing.”

It’s the story of Jessica Long, an orphaned baby born in Siberia with a disease which would cause both her legs to be amputated. The commercial shows a woman receiving a phone call from the orphanage about this baby girl being available for adoption. They explain her amputation and say “her life won’t be easy.” Without hesitation the mom says “it won’t be easy, but it will be amazing.”

And she was so right. Jessica was adopted by a family in Baltimore, and now as a 26 years old swimmer, she is the 2nd most decorated Paralympian in US history. Her life hasn’t been easy, but it sure has been amazing.

We have a Father who teaches us the same. He knew what it would take to save us. He knew the sacrifice required. Our salvation called for the blood of his son, and God so loved each and every one of us that he gave us Jesus so that we would not perish, but have everlasting life. God knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it would be amazing.

And Jesus came to Earth knowing his mission. Knowing the ultimate sacrifice would be required of him. He sweat drops of blood from sheer exhaustion and stress before going to that cross. And there he thought of you, and he thought of me, and he must have said, “it won’t be easy, but it will be amazing.”

And now, as the recipients of this sacrifice, we are called to live a life that won’t be easy. But honey if we do it right, it will be amazing!

Matthew 7: 13-14 Jesus said “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.”

The wide gate represents the easy way. This is the way of living that says “hey, only do what you feel like doing.” I don’t know about you, but most days if I really ask myself what I feel like doing, it’s not a whole lot of anything. I don’t feel like getting out of bed. I don’t feel like eating healthy. I don’t feel like studying the letter God has written me. I don’t feel like working. Heck, sometimes I don’t even feel like being nice.

And this is how a whole lot of people live their lives. The road they’re on is broad and many travel there steered by their feelings and momentary desires. It’s easy to live this way. But look ahead sister, where does this easy road lead? It leads to destruction.

Is the easy way sucking you into the destruction of your potential? God created you with a world of potential, then he gave you free will to choose the way you go. What a shame it is for us to be walking around with the potential to do amazing things with this one life we have been given to live, but instead we’re walking around on the easy path allowing it all to be destroyed.

DIDN’T YOUR MAMA TELL YOU DON’T BE EASY?!!!

Stop seeking easy. You’re better than that!

YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!

Within you is exactly what it takes to do whatever you need to do, and do it well. Stop seeking the easy way and start asking God which way will be amazing. It will probably be the hard way.

Now, amazing isn’t found on day 1 of the journey. Amazing isn’t the daily experience on that narrow path. Quite honestly it doesn’t feel amazing to stand on the edge, knowing failure is a viable option, and step anyway. It feels dang scary. What if you end this job and take another one? What if you say yes and go there? What if you go all in and it goes all wrong? What if it’s not easy, and instead it’s dang hard every single day for a really long time?

BUT WHAT IF IT’S THE PATH THAT LEADS YOU TO LIFE? The life God had in mind for you when he created you. The life Jesus came to give you, you know the one that’s filled to overflowing?

Jesus said in John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” One translation says it like this “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows.”

What Jesus did to give us a shot at that kind of life wasn’t easy, but it was amazing. What we will need to do to step into that life won’t be easy, but it will be amazing.

The enemy lurks in the easy way. He’s the wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s the little settle here, and little settle there, that drastically changes the trajectory of your life over time.

Look up sister … where is this taking you? What is the trajectory of the path you’re on? If you keep doing what you’re doing for the next 5 years, where will you end up? Is that the broad path that so many others are on because it’s easy? You don’t belong there! If it’s easy, then know it’s easily destroying all the God given potential inside of you.

God has never called me to anything that was easy for me. He always stretches me to see what is possible with him. My guess is he’s not calling you to the easy way either. He’s calling you right through the hard stuff to get you to the abundant life he created you for.

There’s a choice before you today … one you’ve been uncertain about. Know this, God isn’t calling you to be reckless. He isn’t calling you to jump out of your marriage to seek another one. He isn’t telling you to quit your job and expect winning lottery numbers. He isn’t telling you to run away from your mess. He isn’t telling you to go for the quick fix. But what he is telling you is THIS WON’T BE EASY. It wasn’t easy for him, it wasn’t easy for Jesus, and it won’t be easy for you. But stick with him, seek him, follow him, and it will be amazing.

We see Jessica Long, this beautiful Paralympian with 13 gold medals and think “wow, that’s amazing.” No doubt best commercial of the Super Bowl. But I promise you there were a whole lot of heart breaking days on that journey. A whole lot of hard training. A whole lot of questioning. A whole lot of setbacks and stumbles. Literally. From the moment her mom said yes to the call from the orphanage, it was anything but easy.

Adoption isn’t easy … I know, I’ve adopted 2 little girls from an orphanage myself. They hadn’t lost their legs, but they had lost their entire world as they were abandoned by everyone they ever knew. We went through abandonment issues, depression, anxiety, cutting, and suicide attempts. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and it’s amazing. It was our narrow path that lead to life, the life God had called us to.

Don’t be afraid of where God is calling you. It won’t be easy, but my sister, it will be amazing. He will be with you every step of the way leading you into the abundant, overflowing life he came to give you. One step at a time, you will get there.

The journey won’t be easy. It will be hard. Dang hard some days. But, with God, it will be amazing.