Synergy: Jesus, You, and Me

Are you living a surrendered life? Is there real synergy between you and Jesus? 

We’re stronger when we stop carrying life on our own.

While waiting for their turn in a theatre play, Hanaya and Hiroto start chatting about leaning on Jesus' strength when facing tough situations. Hanaya is impressed by some of the things Hiroto says. She also shares a meaningful life lesson from her childhood. As they keep talking, it seems like Hiroto gets a bit carried away and might have hinted that he likes her.

Is Hanaya hearing a quiet confession of love?
Was Hiroto being impulsive—or was this a bold, intentional step forward?

Let’s grow together as we learn to walk in step with Jesus—and recognize the right people He brings into our lives to walk with us.

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya  

Transcript

Hanaya 0:00

Do you think your parents will calm down after a while ?

Hiroto 0:03

Uh , it's tough to say, but I've got to give you credit for your resilience. It's pretty epic.

Hanaya 0:08

Epic? What makes you say that?

Hiroto 0:10

Well, despite everything that's been happening, I've never seen you in panic mode. When I'm around you, I pick up on a whole new energy. It's as if you're on a different wavelength, transmitting life on a different frequency. That sense of security, wonder, and optimism that you carry feels incredibly real. You've helped me see God in a new way, and honestly, it feels like my life is getting a major rewrite. By the way, I can handle my parents' reaction, so don't worry about that.

Hanaya 0:40

Hey, you're giving me too much credit for who I am. You don't see my private thoughts, struggles, and weaknesses. Sometimes it's tough for me to go against the norm. I see the challenges coming. I anticipate some backlash. I know the limits to my courage and energy. But the good news is that Jesus doesn't leave us hanging. He doesn't just leave us to figure things out with our own strength and wisdom. Instead, He energizes us from within to do what He is calling us to do. When our ears are tuned to the frequency of Jesus's voice, we will follow Him because we recognize it. If we're really hearing Him, we will be energized by His words. We won't pay attention to the voices of strangers, the critics, or the lies. In every situation, it is His voice that strengthens me. I'm just a messenger working with Jesus to share the truth. The real power isn't about how brave or smooth I am. It's about highlighting Jesus, not me. The messenger is not the focus of attention. Jesus is the focus. I'm not responsible for how people respond to my message. I do my part in delivering it, and Jesus takes care of the rest through my efforts. This is the teamwork He uses to spread His message to a lost world.

Hiroto 1:52

I really love the synergy between you and Jesus. That kind of dependency is something I want to build in my own life. A few days ago, I came across this verse in the Bible, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose." I thought, "Wow! This one verse can really help me to go to sleep at night when nothing else will." You and I can't control all the waves of life. Often we think that life will get easier if we just make it past this current challenge. But new difficulties are surely just around the corner. This world is a sea of hardships. There is no paradise here. Not yet. But God's love will outlast every discouragement, fear, anxiety, setback, and temptation we face. We can endure challenges with real hope. Because God synergizes everything, not just some things, not a few things, but all things, to accomplish His will in our lives. He takes the simple, the sweet, the bitter, and even the sinister things in our life, like in Joseph's story, and uses them for good. And it isn't primarily about serving our personal interests. Instead, those highs and lows give life its unique flavors, all for a bigger purpose. That's the beauty of divine synergy.

Hanaya 3:03

Wow! Hiroto, that's a revelation. Thanks for your encouragement; it really means a lot. At the rate you're going, you'll be teaching and mentoring others in no time. You know, the only limit we have as disciples of the Lord is our own devotion. We are all as close to the Lord as we want to be. If we seek Him earnestly, we will find Him. Those who are serious about knowing Him, will discover far more than those who are not. And I like the word synergy that you used. It really captures how we rely on and work together with the Lord. Taking our relationship with the Lord to the next level means becoming bond servants. This is essential for effective synergy and helps avoid presumptuousness.

Hiroto 3:45

Uh, can you explain that last part of becoming bond servants?

Hanaya 3:48

Okay, so although many believers have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they still end up living life on their own terms. They skip checking in with the Lord about what He wants for them. They make choices about relationships, marriage, jobs, relocations, and many other things based on what feels good to them rather than seeking the Lord's input. Their connection with Jesus is weak because there is very little surrender. A bond servant is one owned by another. They do not have anything that is their own. Even their time belongs to their master. Do we take up our crosses each day dying to our own desires? We need to live as if we are owned by the Lord, seeing him in every aspect of our lives, prioritizing His will above our own, and cherishing the incredible privilege of serving Him. Staying close to the Lord and being in sync with Him is something we need to choose to do all the time; it's not just a one-and-done deal.

Hiroto 4:45

Hmm , doesn't the scripture say, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." The Lord will allow us to have our way if we insist on doing things our own way. Because we believe we know better. And we can easily assume He's on board with our plans. And when things go wrong, we blame God. We really have to put our trust in Him more than in our feelings and how we see things. But sometimes following what God wants can lead us into tough situations. A lot of people just don't have the strength or courage to take that route.

Hanaya 5:24

Yeah, that's right. Following God's will isn't always a walk in the park. It can be tough and full of challenges. Without him, we can't really get anything done. We often try to handle things on our own. But it's important to own up to our weaknesses and ask for help. When we're aligned with His will, His grace gives us the strength we need. Remember how Jesus told the apostle Paul that His grace was enough for him? Paul said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He figured out that when he felt weak, that's actually when he was strong. He realized that God's strength shines the brightest in our weakness. I remember an incident my mom told me when I was around three years old. I was fascinated with the way my mom hammered nails to hang up paintings and stuff around the house. One day she decided to give me a hammer to try it out for myself, and I was so excited. But she warned me to let her help. Together we took some nails and started pounding them into a piece of scrap wood . She wrapped her hand around mine guiding me while I worked the hammer and nails. It was a lot of fun for both of us. No harm done and we were both happy. The next day, I decided to give it a shot by myself. Bad idea. My mom heard me crying and rushed over to find me in tears, holding up my mangled little forefinger. I had found the hammer and nails and started pounding without her help, and the result was an instant disaster. It was a total mess. She scooped me up in her arms to comfort me knowing exactly what had happened. I had hit the nail too hard, but unfortunately the nail was on the tip of my own finger. After plenty of blood, ice, and tears, we came to an understanding I would not hammer nails unless she placed her hands on top of mine to guide me. If I admitted I needed help, she could give me the strength I needed for the task. The strength was in the presence of my mother placing her hands on mine, while the work was taking place. She always brought up this story to remind me that prayer is our admission of weakness, and is crucial to receiving the Lord's help strength and energy for the challenges I will face in life.

Hiroto 7:37

Wow! That was a beautiful life lesson. Talking about synergy, it's interesting to note that Jesus sent the disciples out two by two. The Bible also states that two are better than one. When they team up, they can accomplish a lot more together. If one of them trips up, the other can help them out. Sure, one person might struggle on their own, but with a buddy, they can stand their ground. Just like when two plow horses work together, they can pull a lot more than if they were going solo. Perhaps you and I are destined to have synergy.

Hanaya 8:08

Uh, okay, so what are you really trying to say?

Hiroto 8:12

Not everyone is suited for every work. Not everyone is ready for every work. Not everyone is comfortable in every work. But isn't that the beauty of synergy? We often find ourselves isolated or divided. What if we partnered together instead of separating over our preferences or personalities? What if we face the world together? Your synergy with Jesus, my budding synergy with Jesus, what if we combined forces with Jesus? You and me together, like that saying about a cord of three strands being hard to break. In Jesus we find synergy and unity in spirit. Together, we are stronger. When we work collaboratively we can pull exponentially more weight than the sum of our individual efforts.

Hanaya 8:54

I like what you're saying and I'm open to it, but I think it's too early. I also don't want to rely on anyone. People can just disappear, like gone with the wind, you know,. I prefer not to build any expectations.

Hiroto 9:06

Is that why you keep your distance? Are you afraid to get closer because you think it won't last long? Do you worry that people will abandon you? I understand how hurtful your father's actions were. It feels like you think I'll just take off and move on after high school

Hanaya 9:22

Hiroto, it's not like that.

Hiroto 9:23

The day we met at the beach and chatted about purpose, you probably thought it was just a random one-time connection. But look at how far we've come. You've invested so much in me. I know I don't have much to offer and I've got a lot to learn. I really wish I had started my journey with Jesus sooner. Do you see me merely as a lost soul to save for Jesus and then move on? If Jesus asks you to stop talking to me, would you do that?

Hanaya 9:50

Yes, I would, but He hasn't told me to do so. Honestly, I feel comfortable around you and I'm not trying to create distance. What really gets to me is when people just walk away. What you're saying involves some risks and sacrifices. Also, I think you shouldn't defend me in front of others. I can handle things myself. If you do that, they'll just assume we're in a relationship and that'll make everything messier. Defending me will only give them more reasons to talk.

Hiroto 10:18

Okay, can I ask you something? Why do you still risk your time with me, knowing others are watching? But honestly, why should we care? They can make up anything. What if we decide to take things further? I'm not asking you to focus solely on me or give me more attention. Of course, I believe God is using you. What I mean is you don't have to do this alone. I wanna be part of your life and be something more for you. I'd love for us to be on the same wavelength and frequency as Jesus, moving forward together with Him. Do you think you could give me a bit more space in your life? I can be a companion in your mission to carry out the work He has entrusted you to do. Can we not team up with the Lord? I'm super glad that Jesus hasn't told you to stop talking to me. That gives me hope. So I've got a new goal, to get closer to you. We can run the race that Jesus has for us together. Sorry, if I've made you feel uncomfortable. Just take your time to think it over and pray about it.