Squeeze Through The Narrow Place

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

This verse has been dwelling in me for the past few weeks. Many of us, Christians know well about this verse. But sadly not many people are willing to squeeze through the narrow place because it is not as easy to walk as the broad road. We might feel lonely because there is not plenty of company with us going through this narrow road. It is a difficult journey and it may feel as if there is no blessing while going through it. However, we all know that blessing will always be waiting for us at the end of the journey.

If we know that the ‘reward’ will be prepared for us as promised by God, why are we sometimes still reluctant to move forward on this narrow path? Because the journey will require us to let go of our old comfortable life, it will force us to change our way of spending time and money, it will demand us to change our attitude, and lastly, we will have to raise our standard into God’s standard. It is a complete makeover of our lives.

I would like to share about my Director’s story, Sandy and Karen. Sandy and Karen are the directors of NewLeaf International, a Christian organisation that provides shelter for women and their children who are affected directly by Domestic Violence. They are just like us, normal Christians who work for a living. They do not have a big bank account to start with. They just have a big heart to carry God’s calling in their life. Starting an organisation in Australia is not easy, there was a lot of paperwork needs to be done and submitted, yet they went through all of that.

After NewLeaf was established, they started small first. To start, they rented a unit to give shelter to a client. Then they closed the unit and opened a 6 bedroom house for more clients. Each client will pay small amount of money to NewLeaf to help out with the house rent and bills. The clients themselves were supported by government financially to enable them to survive on their own after escaping DV relationship. However, for almost 2 years, the clients were just come and go. Many times the house was almost empty because there were not many clients staying in the house, therefore NewLeaf didn’t get much income from the clients.

Sandy and Karen have faithfully injected funds into this shelter house to pay for rent and bills. Not only supporting NewLeaf financially, they also need to assist their clients with many different kinds of problems or needs, i.e. taking them shopping, assisting their legal matters, dealing with the government, etc. NewLeaf has taken up much of their time, mind, and finance. However they did it with a cheerful heart. They have been faithful to the task God gave to them.

I remember once Karen told me, “Doing all this doesn’t benefit us at all. We lose a lot of money and we don’t have enough time for ourselves. We could have chosen to live for our own family and avoid all the stress, but we choose to do His will because it is truly fulfilling. I find joy when I serve these ladies and when I can help those who are in need”.

Currently, they just opened up their second shelter house. Slowly God is providing them with more clients. They have been blessed in their ministry. I hope through them, many people’s lives will be touched and blessed.

Both Sandy and Karen have chosen the narrow path which not many people willing to take. Many times they feel lonely because there are not many people who want to pair up with them knowing this is a hard job, but they still strive to move forward. I really admire them and I hope I can be with them, supporting them as much as I can and as long as I can for the organisation.

I encourage you to get on the narrow road and stay there. There may not be many people on it with you, but if you look carefully you will see Jesus because the narrow way is always the road He travels ~ Joyce Myer

I love this quote so much from Joyce Myer because many times we are doubtful if after God speaks to us to do something, we will be left alone by ourselves. But actually, Jesus is always with us. Let us not lose hope and keep looking at Jesus so we can carry our calling well.