I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

Would you consider yourself a person who is consistently coping? Coping means to find effective, successful ways to handle or manage stressful thoughts, actions or problematic situations. We are all guilty of coping. Whether it is watching TV (reality, game shows), getting lost in the pages of a novel, burning off steam by exercising or listening to music. We all seek different ways to cope and handle life’s challenges. The problem is when we try to hide and run away from our issues through our coping mechanisms. We become so fearful, so absorbed in our fake worlds we don’t want to address the real issue. Our fear, our anxiety over if our problems will be resolved.

Operating through fear is a terrible way to live. We’re alwyas panicking. Calling saved and unsaved friends for advice, or crying to our parents for help, yet all our tears lead back to one place. Always, at the end of ourselves, we finally go to God. Laying ourselves at His feet begging Him to have mercy on us and deliver us from our circumstances. Does this pattern sound familiar? First we cope. We seek advice from everyone else and everything else, then we finally come to God. How about we try developing a new pattern? We come to Jesus first.

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9) Jesus is the gate. He is the doorway, the entrance we pass though. Jesus is the perfect gate, because the only access in is a willing heart. Jesus accepts any and all people no matter if you’re broke, rich, middle class, plain, handsome, young or old, black or white. It is “whoever enters through me will be saved,” because Jesus is the gate that gives everlasting life. Through Him we have salvation for the path is narrow and Christ grants us access to the Father. Saving us not only from our sins, He gives us peace; peace that protects our hearts and minds, when we trust His provision instead of our own. Unlike many gates, worn down by time, Jesus is the gate that will stand forever. He is unbreakable. We can trust Jesus and come to Him to find the wisdom and instruction we need to absolve our situations. Jesus says, “They will come in and go out, and find pasture,” freely He lets us come and go to find “pasture” when we need it. The pasture inside of His living arms giving us peace and security.

So please, my friends, do not fret. Do not return to your coping mechanisms. Go to Jesus pray through your situation, ask for guidance in how to handle a coworker, your spouse or your children. Then rest in Jesus knowing the will of the Father will be done in your life.

1. What the coping mechanisms you have in your life? List three ways you cope with your issues.
2. How can we begin to effectively deal with the issues in our lives instead of avoiding them? (James 1:5; Proverbs 3:5-8)
3. What does it mean to trust God? Can you trust God and worry at the same time? Why or why not?

Dear Gracious Lord and Heavenly Father, thank you Jesus for being the gate. Thank you for giving me safe pasture and to receive comfort in your presence in the face of my problems. Help me Lord Jesus to come to your first. To trust wholeheartedly knowing you will always have me in the palm of your hand. In Christ Jesus name I pray, Amen.