Obedience to Jesus is rarely convenient. It interrupts our routines, collides with our comfort, and demands more than we think we can give. But isn’t that the point of following Him?

Let’s be honest. Mentoring is an inconvenience. For both the mentor and the mentee. It requires commitment: time to read and complete assignments, setting aside a day each month to meet, and opening up about things they may never have shared before.

But being inconvenienced is not always a bad thing! Not when it comes to following Jesus.

When Jesus asked His disciples to leave what they were doing and follow Him, it may have looked like an interruption or an inconvenience, but it was actually an invitation to a bigger calling. In the same way, when Jesus asks us to be obedient, to follow Him, and to step into a mentoring journey, He is inviting us into deeper faith, greater growth, stronger community, richer relationships, and so much more.

Personally, I feel sad whenever I hear stories from mentoring groups where women share that it feels like “too much” to meet and do all the homework. I completely understand that we have busy lives, and I have nothing but compassion for women juggling motherhood, work, and simply keeping life afloat.

Still, I can’t help but feel that our society has become too comfortable. Too comfortable with our routines and our schedules, so that anything that disrupts our rhythm feels like a sacrifice we are not willing to make, or at least to try.

The cost and reward of obedience to Jesus

If we truly want to be Jesus’ disciples, He is calling us to something more. He is asking us to deny ourselves, our wants, our guilty pleasures, our comfort, to take up our cross and follow Him. (Matthew 16:24). 

A cross is not light. It is heavy. Obedience can feel heavy. But the reward is far greater than anything we can imagine. This is where obedience to Jesus moves us beyond convenience into transformation.

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

If we are overly concerned with preserving an easy, comfortable life, we risk losing the abundant life God has for us.

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

In other words, what good is it if we have all the material things we want and endless time to do as we please, but neglect the care of our souls?

Radical Mentoring is not meant to be watered down. It is meant to call us to a higher standard. To be obedient to Jesus’ calling, embrace the inconvenience, and take up our cross and follow Him.

Are you ready to answer that call?