🕊️PRAY HERE Devotion The Wide Gate vs. The Narrow Gate | Pt. 2 🕊️ “You Have Divine Help on the Narrow Road”

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” — Matthew 7:13-14 ESV

Devotion :

Even the hardest things are easier when you have help.

Think about that for a minute.

Have you ever watched somebody make their situation harder because they refused to accept help?

Whewww! 😮‍💨

Maybe it’s a single mother trying to carry the entire weight of raising her children, working, paying bills, and keeping everything together, but she refuses every offer of help because she feels like she has to do everything by herself.

Maybe it’s a couple struggling financially, drowning in bills, and God sends somebody with wisdom, resources, or an opportunity to help them; but pride makes them refuse it.

Or maybe it’s somebody struggling with addiction who knows they need help but refuses counseling, accountability, or rehabilitation because they keep telling themselves, “I can handle this.”

Sometimes we don’t make life hard because life is necessarily supposed to be that hard.

We make it harder because we refuse the help that God sends.

My, my, my!

Now let’s look back at our scripture from yesterday.

Jesus told us there are two gates.

The wide gate is easy.

It’s popular because many people are traveling that road.

And it leads to destruction.

The narrow gate is narrow.

The way is hard.

Fewer people choose it.

But it leads to life.

So, which one do you choose?

Now somebody may hear, “The way is hard,” and immediately say, “Oh Lord! I don’t want that one!” 😂

But wait a minute.

Have you ever heard somebody say,

“I’m no stranger to hard work”?

That’s the kind of mindset we need when we’re walking with Jesus.

People who are accustomed to working hard for what they want aren’t necessarily discouraged when something is difficult. They understand that some things worth having require sacrifice, discipline, patience, and perseverance.

They don’t quit simply because it’s hard.

But when somebody is accustomed to everything being handed to them, everything being convenient, and everything coming easily, they can become very attracted to the wide gate.

Easy sounds good when you don’t want to work.

And that’s exactly what we talked about in Part 1.

But today, I want to show you something that makes the narrow road different.

You don’t have to walk it alone!

Whewwww! 🙌🏽

Jesus never told us to walk this difficult road in our own strength.

We have divine help!

The Holy Spirit is our Helper.

And that changes EVERYTHING.

There will be moments when obedience is hard.

The Holy Spirit helps you.

There will be moments when you want to go back to your old ways.

The Holy Spirit reminds you of God’s Word.

There will be moments when forgiveness feels impossible.

The Holy Spirit gives you the strength to forgive.

There will be moments when temptation is strong.

The Holy Spirit gives you the power to say NO!

There will be moments when you are afraid to do what God has called you to do.

The Holy Spirit gives you courage.

There will be moments when you don’t know what decision to make.

The Holy Spirit gives you wisdom and discernment.

There will be moments when you’re tired and feel like you cannot take another step.

The Holy Spirit strengthens you.

That’s divine help!

So yes, the narrow road is harder.

But God is with you on it!

You may have to forgive somebody you never thought you’d forgive.

God will help you.

You may have to walk away from relationships that are pulling you away from Him.

God will help you.

You may have to stop doing something that your flesh really enjoys.

God will help you.

You may have to tell the truth when lying would be easier.

God will help you.

You may have to wait when you really want it right now.

God will help you.

You may have to stand alone when everybody else is going in the opposite direction.

God will help you!

That’s a good place to pause and praise! 🙌🏽🔥

Because the narrow road isn’t a road where you have to prove how strong you are.

It’s a road where you learn how dependent you are on God.

And here’s the beautiful part:

The same God who tells you which road to take also gives you what you need to travel it.

Whewww!

Don’t confuse hard with impossible.

Something can be difficult and still be doable with God’s help.

There are things you may not have been able to do five years ago that you can do now because God has grown you.

There are temptations you used to fall into that you can now walk away from.

There are situations that used to destroy your peace that you can now pray through.

There are people you used to chase that you can now release.

There are things you used to think you couldn’t live without that you now realize you absolutely can.

That’s growth!

That’s what happens when you keep traveling the narrow road with your Helper.

So don’t turn around because the road is hard.

And don’t jump over to the wide road because everybody else seems to be having an easier time.

You don’t know where their road ends.

Jesus already told us where the wide road leads.

I’d rather struggle with Jesus on the narrow road than have an easy life headed toward destruction.

I’d rather need His help every day than have everything I want and lose my soul.

I’d rather walk slowly with God than run quickly in the wrong direction.

Whewwwww! 🙌🏽

And if you’re tired today, ask Him for help.

If you’re tempted, ask Him for help.

If you’re confused, ask Him for help.

If you’re discouraged, ask Him for help.

If you’re trying to change, ask Him for help.

Stop trying to walk the narrow road without the One who was sent to help you walk it!

You have divine help.

The Father has not abandoned you.

Jesus is with you.

The Holy Spirit is your Helper.

So keep walking.

One step.

Then another.

And another.

You can make it.

Not because you’re strong enough by yourself…

but because you have help. ❤️

Reflect & Respond

What part of your walk with God feels hard right now?

Have you been trying to handle it in your own strength?

Or have you invited the Holy Spirit to help you?

Today, don’t just ask God to make the road easier.

Ask Him to help you walk it.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being my Helper. Thank You for not asking me to walk this narrow road by myself. Thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to guide me, strengthen me, correct me, comfort me, and help me obey Your Word.

Jesus, when this road gets hard, help me not to run back to what You delivered me from. When temptation comes, give me strength. When I am afraid, give me courage. When I am confused, give me wisdom. When I am tired, renew my strength. When I don’t know what to do, teach me to listen for Your voice.

Holy Spirit, help me every step of the way. Help me choose the narrow road even when the wide road looks easier. Help me remember that difficult does not mean impossible when You are with me.

Thank You for every time You have helped me when I thought I couldn’t make it.

Thank You for carrying me when I was weak.

Thank You for keeping me when I didn’t know how to keep myself.

I choose Your way, Lord. And I thank You that I don’t have to walk it alone.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏🏼💙