The Big Idea
“Lord, I will follow You, but…”
Luke 9:61
That tiny word “but” reveals the heart of human resistance to God’s call. We’re willing to follow Jesus—with conditions, caveats, and careful limitations. But Jesus demands something different: an unrestrained, adventurous obedience that doesn’t negotiate with God before obeying, but trusts Him completely and takes the leap of faith He requires.
The Simple Takeaway
We like to think we’re willing to follow God. But when the moment comes that requires us to abandon our common sense and trust Him, we hesitate. That hesitation—the “but” in our response—reveals the core of our resistance.
says “yes, but” to God repeatedly. They follow Jesus, but on their own terms. When God asks something that doesn’t make sense, they negotiate, delay, or quietly disobey. Over time, they develop a habit of hesitation that becomes their spiritual character.
came to a point where they ran out of “buts.” God asked something that terrified them because it didn’t make sense. But they stepped into the dark, trusting God’s character more than their understanding. They discovered that what seemed like madness proved to be divine wisdom. Now, when tests come, they’re more likely to obey immediately because they’ve learned that God is trustworthy.
Chambers calls us from Person A’s negotiated obedience into Person B’s abandoned trust—where we move from conditional “yes, but” responses to wholehearted “yes” that takes the leap.
One Question to Sit With
What is the “but” you keep adding to your “yes” to God, and what would it cost you to drop it?