What’s Holding You Back from Following Jesus?
Everyone has something they hold onto—something that feels too important to let go of. It might not be a bad thing on its own, but when it takes priority over Jesus, it becomes a barrier between us and Him. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 had this exact struggle. He followed all the right rules, did all the right things, and yet, when Jesus asked him to give up his wealth and follow Him, he walked away sad. Why? Because his possessions had become his god.
What’s Your Idol?
Idols aren’t just golden statues or ancient relics. An idol is anything that takes God’s place in our hearts. It could be money, success, relationships, control, or even our own plans for the future. If we rely on something more than we rely on Jesus, we’re in the same position as the rich young ruler—holding onto temporary things at the cost of eternal joy.
The Danger of Clinging Too Tightly
The young ruler wanted eternal life, but he wanted to keep his comfort and wealth more. He followed the commandments but missed the bigger picture—loving God above all else. Jesus wasn’t just asking him to give up his wealth; He was inviting him into something greater. But fear and attachment kept him from stepping into that life.
What are you clinging to that Jesus is asking you to surrender? Is it a relationship that isn’t honoring Him? A career goal that’s become your identity? Maybe it’s fear—fear of failure, fear of the unknown, or fear of losing control.
Jesus Meets You Where You Are
The incredible thing about Jesus is that He meets us right where we are. He doesn’t shame us for struggling, but He does invite us to trust Him more. When we let go of what we think we need, we find the freedom and purpose we were created for.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:25 are a powerful reminder: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Letting go might feel like a loss, but in Jesus, it’s actually the greatest gain.
A Simple Prayer to Surrender
If you’re feeling the weight of something you need to release, take a moment to pray:
Jesus, show me what I’m holding onto that keeps me from fully following You. Give me the courage to surrender it, trusting that what You offer is far greater than anything I could hold onto. I want to put You first. Amen.
The Invitation to Freedom
The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus with sadness because he wasn’t willing to let go. But we have a choice today to do things differently. What if, instead of walking away, we walked toward Jesus with open hands? What if we truly trusted that putting Him first leads to a life greater than we could ever imagine?
Whatever you’re holding onto today, know this: Jesus is worth it. Will you trust Him enough to let go?
The rich young ruler followed all the commandments but still felt like something was missing. Have you ever experienced a time when doing all the “right” things still left you feeling unfulfilled? What do you think Jesus was really asking him to do?
Jesus told the young man to sell his possessions and follow Him. While money was his idol, what are some modern-day idols that can take priority over our relationship with Jesus? How can we identify and surrender them?
In Matthew 16:25, Jesus says, “Whoever loses their life for me will find it.” What does this look like in real life? Can you share a time when trusting God over your own plans led to something greater than you expected?
Fear often holds people back from fully following Jesus—fear of losing control, rejection, or the unknown. What fears have kept you from surrendering fully to God? How does faith in Jesus help overcome them?
Jesus’ invitation to follow Him always comes with a cost but leads to something better. What practical steps can you take this week to put God first in your decisions, relationships, and daily habits?