Have you ever complained about a job you once prayed God would give you?
Ever felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities of a home you once dreamed of owning?
Been frustrated with the people you once begged God to bring into your life?
I’ve whined about the kids whom I begged God to allow to survive pregnancy. And I’ve grumbled about the difficulty of the job I longed for God to allow me to have. It’s remarkable how quickly I forgot the joy of receiving those gifts when the weight of caring for them overwhelmed me.
Sometimes, the very things we once prayed for become the things we complain about most.
We talk a lot about the cost of following Jesus. We emphasize surrender, sacrifice, obedience, and even “taking up our cross.” Those are important, even vital parts of discipleship. Jesus never sugarcoated the price His apprentices would pay.
But what happens when we become so focused on the cost of following Jesus that we forget the joy of knowing Him?
That’s the question at the heart of SEU Worship’s song, “The Cost Is a Joy.” SEU Worship is a worship collective from Southeastern University in Florida. In an interview with RELEVANT Magazine, members of the collective described their desire to bring a different perspective to conversations about discipleship and worship.
“There is a lot of language around the cost of following Jesus,” Austin Shuffit explained. “The suffering of it, the hardship of it. And we just thought it was a fresh and important perspective for our students to have — that yes, there is suffering, but there is joy in this.”
Chelsea Plank acknowledged an emphasis on sacrifice “can turn really legalistic really quick.“ The Cost Is a Joy” encourages listeners to keep joy at the heart of our conversations about surrender and even submission.
Jesus told a powerful, yet short parable that captures this perspective. In Matthew 13:44 (NLT), He said: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.”
The man discovered a treasure, recognized its extraordinary value, and in his excitement, sold everything he owned to purchase the field. In contrast to how some of us think of surrender, Jesus doesn’t describe a man begrudgingly surrendering his possessions. His parable imagines someone who has found something so valuable that everything else he owns pales in comparison. The man excitedly gives everything up in response!
If an outsider only considered what the man gave up, though, they might think he had made a terrible decision. He liquidated everything he owned to purchase an ordinary field! But if that person knew what was buried beneath the surface, his decision would make perfect sense.
The treasure changed how he valued everything else. And that’s what happens when we begin to recognize the incomparable worth of knowing Jesus. However, somewhere along the way of discipleship, we can lose sight of the treasure and become consumed with the price.
We focus on what following Jesus requires. After all, there are habits to change, temptations to resist, and people to forgive. The cost is not small! Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. In Luke 9:23, He told His disciples that coming after Him meant denying themselves, taking up their cross daily, and following Him.
But we miss the full picture when we separate the cost of discipleship from the joy of knowing Jesus.
Have you forgotten what it felt like when you first realized Jesus loved you and was offering you real grace? Do you remember the first time God made a difference in someone’s life through your efforts? Is it possible that you’ve been so focused on “becoming a better Christian” that you’ve forgotten the wonder of being loved by Jesus?
If you nodded as you read those questions, the solution isn't to try harder. Please don’t! Instead, pause and meditate on the treasure. You were forgiven when you didn’t deserve it. God offered you grace when you couldn’t save yourself. Jesus didn’t wait for you to become worthy before He loved you.
“The Cost Is a Joy” reminds us that following Jesus requires real sacrifice, but it is a response to finding treasure worth more than anything we could ever give up. Instead of trying harder, what if you stopped to marvel at the treasure of knowing God and being loved by Him? May that sense of wonder and awe motivate you to take your next step with Jesus today.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker who loves tacos, green tea, and sneakers. With more than twenty years of ministry experience, he teaches with a blend of Biblical truth, emotional awareness, and the compassion shaped by his own struggles.
Scott’s writing has impacted millions through trusted platforms such as the YouVersion Bible App, Air1 Radio, and Our Daily Bread. He’s the author of Faith Behind the Song, a 40-day devotional book published in partnership with K-Love Books. Whether speaking on a stage or writing on a page, he offers a steady, empathetic voice that reassures people they are seen, loved, and not beyond God's healing reach. You can sign up to receive his weekly newsletter at ScottSavageLive.com today!
