We see evidence all throughout Scripture that Jesus was deeply concerned with the matters of the heart. When we take a look at the life and ministry of Christ, we discover a man who saw people in their circumstances—stepping not only into their physical realities, but also their spiritual ones.
In our walks with Jesus, we are often tempted to fight the secret struggles within our hearts alone. In turn, we also begin to minister to others in this manner. Our discipleship can become so focused on passing down a tool that we end up leaving those we’ve been entrusted to shepherd to wage the battles of their hearts alone.
But as we seek to learn from Jesus, we see Him offering us a new way to live and minister. Not only does He invite us to lean into His strength in our personal heart struggles, He also gives us the gift of stepping into others’ lives and inviting them to do the same. As we follow Christ and make Him known, we have the privilege of bringing people before Christ and watching how He cares for both our hearts and the hearts of those around us. Discipleship is not simply about giving tools for people to become better Christians; it is about being faithful to bring the people before you into the presence of Christ and walking with them while Christ changes their hearts and transforms their lives.
I am so grateful that I have had different people in my life to step into these places with me throughout my walk with Jesus. For most of my life, I’ve experienced gripping fear, and this past year I’ve watched as fear spewed out of me anytime something unknown or threatening arose. In response, I tried to make myself strong, thinking that tackling fear meant mustering up whatever courage I could find. But in my continued struggle, I sought out help, and I was paired with someone who has committed herself to asking me about the places of fear in my heart. My new companion has intentionally created a space for me to surrender these fears and be met by the Lord through prayer.
My friend’s intentionality to step into this “secret” area in my life has freed me to be weak in the arms of Jesus and to allow His strength to hold me amidst my fear. Her commitment to ask about what is spewing out of my heart has ministered to me by inviting me to taste the beauty of the gospel as it addresses some of (what I had believed to be) the most secret and shameful parts of my character. I’m grateful that she is willing to step into the messy and make space for me to experience the ways that the Lord, in His kindness, is committed to renovating my heart—not simply changing my outer life.
How beautiful that our Heavenly Father desires for us to look more and more like His Son, not just in action and word but also in heart. Friends, this is the gift we get as we step into Life-to-Life discipleship. We are gifted with the opportunity to step into the matters of the heart, to walk alongside our student friends, families, neighbors, and peers, and to remind them that even in the secret places of their hearts, the gospel is truly good news!
