Then he and his disciples went to another village.

Luke 9:56

A wise colleague recently told me about how change is impossible unless we are willing to stop something and start something. In other words, there must be a period of letting go, and perhaps even grieving.

I’m not one for passing up opportunities. But, then I also find myself unable to let anything go, and I have too many good things to do. This means that when the better opportunity comes, I can’t seem to let anything go and I find myself overcommitted and overwhelmed. I can’t change because I’m only adding, I’m not subtracting.

Perhaps you have this one figured out. I believe Jesus did. He had just gotten off a big teaching moment; The disciples saw Jesus perform miracles, learned about his death, and declared him the Messiah. Jesus had been busy, and the disciples were putting the puzzle pieces together mentally. The team and their leader entered an unfriendly Samaritan town. Maybe they were hangry or tired or overwhelmed with the fast pace of Jesus’ ministry. At any rate, they were ready to leave the town and destroy it on their way out. Jesus pushed pause on that thinking; The text reads that he “turned and rebuked [the disciples].”

And, then, today’s verse: “Then he and his disciples went to another village.”

What I find so fascinating is that Jesus could have easily just agreed and brought down the hammer. Or, he could have had compassion on the Samaritans and continued to try to win their hearts with miracles. Or, he could have taken a vacation and rested. Instead, he left. He bypassed the opportunity for action and left.

What kinds of opportunities do you need to leave? What is going to give you the greatest bang for your buck when it comes to your time and priorities? What good things do you need to leave to have space for the best things to come your way? Grieve the choice, leave the opportunity behind, and go on to the better option. You’ll be glad you changed.

What will you stop doing today to go on to better opportunities? Share it on Facebook @HopelesslyHopefulBooks. https://www.facebook.com/HopelesslyHopefulBooks

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© 2021, Mollie Bond. All rights reserved. Originally published at www.molliebond.org.