“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”- John 6:67

There are moments in our spiritual journey when following Jesus becomes more difficult than we anticipated. A prayer remains unanswered, suffering challenges what we thought we understood about God, or obedience asks something of us that we are reluctant to surrender. During such seasons, faith may feel less like certainty and more like a difficult conversation between what we believe and what we are experiencing.

In John 6, many who had followed Jesus began withdrawing after hearing teachings they found difficult to accept. They had witnessed His miracles and received the bread He provided, yet struggled when He directed their attention beyond physical provision toward the deeper meaning of receiving life through Him. As disciples turned away, Jesus asked the Twelve a remarkably personal question: “Will ye also go away?”

What strikes me is that Jesus did not manipulate them into staying. He allowed them the dignity of choosing, even when that choice might mean leaving. His question revealed something essential about divine love: genuine relationship cannot be sustained through coercion. Christ invites our trust without denying our freedom.

Peter’s response is equally revealing: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Peter did not claim to understand everything Jesus had said. His answer reflected a growing recognition of who Jesus was, even when His teachings remained challenging.

Faith is not always the absence of questions, nor does spiritual maturity require us to pretend that disappointment, confusion, or sorrow have disappeared. Faith is the willingness to remain in relationship with Christ while allowing Him to reshape our understanding.

If you are navigating a season in which God’s ways seem difficult to understand, or if you are carrying grief, uncertainty, and questions you hesitate to express, Jesus does not require you to manufacture certainty before approaching Him. The same Christ who allowed His disciples to wrestle with His words continues to invite us into a relationship grounded in truth and love.

When following Jesus becomes difficult, ask yourself: am I measuring His faithfulness by what I presently understand, or learning to trust the One whose character I am still discovering?

Prayer: Loving Father, when my understanding is limited and my faith feels unsettled, help me remain open to Your truth. Give me courage to bring my questions honestly before You, humility to recognize what I do not yet understand, and grace to discover Your faithfulness in the person of Jesus Christ. Amen.                    

Blessings,
Ze Selassie M.A.C.C., B.A. Chapl., Dip. Min.
Chaplain (Christian Leaders Alliance)
PhD Candidate – Practical Theology
Ordained Minister • Christian Counselor

L.I.V.E. — Love Infinite, Vigorously Exercised
My destination is a place that requires a new way of being.

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