It’s a hard truth, but we will all face loss in our lives. It’s just an inevitable part of what it means to be human. Let me tell you about the time I lost my beloved Toyota. My phone vibrated off the nightstand early one September morning. I was jarred awake by the thud of it crashing against cheap wooden furniture. It was about 4:15 in the morning, so it was a little unsettling and very startling. I was in an unfamiliar hotel room, so I had to flip on the lights to find my phone between the bed and the side table. When I looked at the luminous screen, my heart sank into my stomach. The caller ID said “Maybe: Apex Police Department.”

Why on earth were the police calling me in the middle of the night? Was someone hurt? Were they arresting me for my late tollroad payment? Was I being awarded a medal for excellence in parallel parking? I had no idea, all I could do was answer the phone with a raspy voice. Without even saying hello, a disembodied voice asked “How much front end damage does your Toyota 4Runner have?” The officer spoke with authority and assertiveness. Shoot, I could tell he had a mustache just from his voice. I was discombobulated so I just replied, “uhm, none…sir.” He carried on, “I was afraid of that.”

Officer Garrison went on to explain that they had recovered my car at a Sheets gas station with severe damage to the front-end and drugs packed throughout the cabin. “Fantastic,” I thought to myself. “There is going to be an incriminating headline in the newspaper about a local church leader whose car was packed full of narcotics and wasabi almonds.” (The wasabi almonds were mine, as I have a few bags of those in my car at all times. The drugs were not mine, just for the official record.)

I felt like I was being pranked, but the officer was serious as a drill sergeant. Apparently, my car was stolen from the rental car lot in North Carolina while I was doing a Reset Student Movement event in the northeast. The alleged criminal was discovered hunched next to the vehicle trying to put air in a tire that had come completely off the rims — evidence of his inebriation. He was arrested and I was stuck driving ten hours down highway 81 to say goodbye to my beloved SUV and fill out piles of paperwork. It was one of the most manic Mondays I’ve ever encountered.

I am telling you this story, because there is a strange exchange at the introduction of the Triumphant Entry story in Matthew. It appears as though Jesus asks his disciples to steal a donkey for his arrival into the city.

READ: Matthwew 21:1-8
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.”

Do you see it? Did Jesus just ask His disciples to commit grand theft donkey? No, not really. They had every intention of returning the donkey and not crashing it outside of a gas station. Furthermore, He told them to simply explain the significance of this event to the owner of the animal by saying, “The Lord needs it and I’ll bring it back.” Regardless of all the circumstances, I still imagine this was a scary scenario for the followers of Jesus. I am certain the disciples were uncomfortable with the potential confrontation while trying to wrangle someone else’s donkey. However, they obeyed regardless of the awkwardness.

Jesus often asks us to do things we don’t want to do. If you follow Jesus, he is going to ask you to do some unbelievable, unexpected and uncomfortable things. That’s just the reality of a committed life; Christ will ask you to do things that make you a little uneasy. It’s uncomfortable to talk to someone about faith, but God calls us to spread the good news. It’s uncomfortable to give away your hard earned money, but God urges you to be generous. It’s awkward to forgive people who don’t deserve it, but the Bible teaches us to forgive even when it’s hard.

Jesus doesn’t just leverage people who are perfectly capable. He works with people who are willing to get a little uncomfortable. You may know God wants you to start pursuing His dream for you, but you are waiting for Him to move first. Maybe God is saying, “You move. I will be there. Take the leap and I’ll catch you.” You know that you need to start a Bible study in your school, but you are waiting for the perfect time. Maybe God is saying, “The perfect time is right now. I know it’s scary, but I will do unbelievable things through you.”

These donkey-napping disciples had to do something a little crazy, but look at the results! Their obedience was the setup for a city-wide rally. Their surrender lead to celebration. True success in life is the result of complete surrender to Jesus. If you want God to do something new in you, then you must let Him work within you. If you want to see something new, then you need to do something new. Embrace the uncomfortable calling God has for you.

Uncomfortable obedience leads to unbelievable outcomes.

TALK IT OUT
Q1: What was the most awkward or unexpected situation you faced this week?
Q2: Why did Jesus need the disciples to bring him a donkey for his ride into Jerusalem?
Q3: How do you think the disciples felt asking a stranger to borrow their donkey?
Q4: When might we feel uncomfortable about something God asks us to do?
Q5: Have you ever done the right thing for God even though it was awkward or uncomfortable? How did it turn out?
Q6: What’s something you’ve felt God wants you to do, but you’ve been putting it off because it’s uncomfortable? Commit to taking the next step of faith this week!