Trusting
1: The Way to Begin Again | Scene 5: Use Me | Day 5 of 6
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
- Mark 1:38–39
From the moment he wakes up, Simon feels the pressure.
Jesus is gone.
After a wild first day of ministry—teaching, healing, casting out demons—Simon and the others wake up and can’t find Him.
People are still around, and they’re asking for him.
Imagine you’re a townsperson for a moment. You have heard about a new rabbi who both speaks with authority and heals people. You want to find him. Maybe you are sick, or your loved one is sick, or something is wrong. You have questions about life and God and maybe this rabbi can help answer something.
It is the next morning, and you’re at the house where he supposedly is, but he is nowhere around. So, you ask the man with him, Simon.
Simon says, I will find him for you.
He disappears, and you wait expectantly. You need your problem solved and look forward to this rabbi Jesus, who may help you.
Cut to Simon. He has finally found Jesus alone in prayer. He blurts out, “Everyone is looking for you!”
Translation: People have needs. Let’s go!
But Jesus doesn’t agree. Instead, He says, “Let’s go somewhere else.”
It is a shocking response.
What about the townspeople? All their needs?
But Jesus isn’t driven by pressure. He is grounded in a hidden purpose. This is a hard lesson to learn.
Jesus doesn’t always do what we want. Need is everywhere, yet Jesus is clear about his mission. He does not let the cries of the people dictate his steps.
This is not to suggest that he does not care about the people. Don’t jump to that conclusion. Jesus’ “no” is not cold-hearted. It is deeply connected to His trust in the Father. He doesn’t panic or people-please. He doesn’t perform. He simply follows.
The nice part for us is, Simon doesn’t argue. He follows too.
This is what I mean by trust. Simon’s response isn’t blind obedience or forced compliance, but a simple action that acknowledges that God’s way—even when confusing—is better than ours.
We don’t know what Simon said to the people looking for Jesus to tell them they weren’t going to get healed that day, and we don’t know what they did. But we do know what Simon did: he obeyed.
Simon is not mentioned again in Mark’s gospel for a good while. But we can deduct from the story that he followed Jesus to the new location.
Learning to follow Jesus means joining him on his mission. It is not our mission. It is his. He doesn’t always do what we want. We need to be careful about trying to take charge, about insisting that Jesus do something because we want it to happen.
Sometimes, following Jesus means walking away from the obvious, the urgent, even the expected. It means releasing your grip on your plan and learning to trust His.
And yes, it is hard. Especially when you’re wired for performance.
Especially when you think God’s love is tied to results.
Jesus doesn’t always do what you want or expect. But He always does what is best. When you live in suspicion, you try to control everything—your future, your faith, even Jesus. But when you trust that God cares deeply, you can stop managing outcomes. You can say yes, even when you don’t understand. Trust is what turns surrender into strength.
If you’re facing a situation where you don’t know what to do, don’t just guess. The best thing is to listen to what Jesus already said by reading Scripture, then pray and wait for direction. Then, prepare to be surprised. Let go of what you want and follow where Jesus leads. Trust God’s timing. His plans, though unexpected, are always for good. Trust doesn’t come from knowing the plan. It comes from knowing the Person. Jesus may not give you your plan, but He always gives you Himself. Trust means letting Jesus lead, even when His direction surprises you.
Pray
Lord, I confess that I often want to control how You show up. Teach me to trust You more than my expectations. Free me from controlling or performing and give me peace to follow wherever You lead. Amen.
Live It
Frustrated: Have you ever been frustrated that Jesus didn’t do what you wanted?
No? What would change if you trusted His “no” as deeply as His “yes.”
Somewhere else: Name one place in your life right now where Jesus might be saying, “Let’s go somewhere else.” What would it look like to follow?
Stay? Conversely, what if Jesus is telling you to stay?
Where We Are: Season 1 | Scene 5 of 6 | Day 5 of 6
Next: Day Six posts Saturday, March 13, 2026
Coming Soon: After this scene, we’ll move to Scene Six: The Lie That I’m on My Own