The Road Not Taken
Thursday, July 23, 2026
“Avoid sympathy that would take you from the path of the cross. Jesus gives you the cross so the cross can give you Him.” – Os Hillman
Pour some water on the ground and watch what happens. More than likely, the water will start to trickle in a certain direction, turning left then right, weaving its way to its final destination until it is all absorbed into the ground.
What dictates the path that the water takes? Gravity for one thing, but also water follows the path of least resistance.
Sadly, so do most people… Christians included.
I don’t know about you, but I have learned a lot more from life’s challenges, obstacles, and hardships – and yes, from my many mistakes, too – than from the times when it was “smooth sailing”. That is especially true when it comes to spiritual matters, because it is during times of trial that we stop depending on ourselves, our strength, and our resources, and start depending exclusively on God.
Remember in the Bible when Jesus told His disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem, be betrayed, and put to death? What was their reaction? Well, Peter – perhaps speaking for the rest of them – actually tried to talk Jesus out of going!
Jesus responded immediately by rebuking Satan because He knew that the devil was actually the one trying to dissuade Him from going to Jerusalem and fulfilling His earthly mission. Imagine for a minute if Jesus had allowed Peter to convince Him to change His life’s course… we’d all still be lost in our sins and trespasses!
My friend, the harder road is always the road less traveled but is often the most rewarding. Do yourself a favor and resist the temptation to take shortcuts in life just to avoid pain and discomfort.
I’ll leave you with a Robert Frost poem and a quote from Jesus…
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
“But Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’” Matthew 16:23 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
