“Here’s my problem. I’ve been a Christian for a number of years and I know that the Lord wants me to trust Him fully and to yield my life to Him, but, well, I just can’t.”

“Then I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

“But I thought you were someone who could help me! You’re supposed to be able to help people in my situation aren’t you?”

“I can’t help you because you don’t want help.”

“Of course I want help! I wouldn’t be here talking to you if I didn’t.”

“The One who can help you is the Lord Jesus, but you don’t want Him to.”

“What do you mean? Of course I want Him to!”

“But it was He who called you to trust Him and to yield your life to Him. His promise is that if you lose your life, you will find it.”

“I know that, but that’s just the point! I can’t do it.”

“If you couldn’t do it, why would the Lord ask you to? A good father doesn’t tell his child to do something impossible and the Lord hasn’t told you to do something impossible either.”

“But I can’t do it. It’s too hard. I’ve tried a hundred times and I can’t.”

“If you can’t, then the Lord is at fault. If you won’t, then you are at fault. Which do you think it is?”

“Stop it! This isn’t helping me at all. And you’re just playing with words!”

“No, I’m not playing and this is not a game! If in fact you won’t yield your life to the One who loved you enough to die for you, then you have a reason, and you need to bring that reason into the light. To say you can’t obey Him is in effect to blame God for your situation, and that will get you nowhere.”

“Listen, I do want to live for Him, but it’s hard. Everyone knows it’s hard!”

“Everyone except Jesus – He said, ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ Look, it is very easy to step from the platform onto a train, but it is very difficult to board the train and still remain on the platform. You can’t do both.”

“So you’re telling me that I won’t surrender my life to Him because I simply don’t want to.”

“Yes, that’s right, and you have a reason, or perhaps many reasons, why you don’t want to.”

“And what are they?”

“That’s something you’ll have to learn from the Lord. Ask Him to show you what’s in your heart – what it is you value more than Him.”

“I’m scared. What if I ask Him to show me, and when I know I still don’t want to let whatever it is go?”

“He can certainly give you repentance if you’re willing to turn to Him, but He won’t override your will. It has to be your choice. But if you don’t ask Him then your choice has already been made – you’ll have demonstrated that you love darkness more than light.”

“Oh! What am I going to do? I feel trapped!”

“…trapped in the love of God who has chosen you and called you to glory! This calling is a serious matter, not a hobby for your spare time and not something you can treat lightly. And why should you? He stands ready, as the faithful shepherd that He is, to guide you into everything He has for you. Why turn away? Why hold back? Why resist Him?”

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)