Risking It All for Jesus and the Girl

What do you do when following Jesus costs more than you expected? We often believe it’s our right to enjoy a blessing—whatever form it takes. But if we chase the blessing more than we chase God’s call, we risk being deceived. Because not every blessing is truly a gift—sometimes it’s a snare. The real question is: can you let it go?

This word is for anyone who longs to follow Jesus in a world that pulls hard in the opposite direction. Remember: we cannot serve two masters. In every temptation and trial, God is proving your faith and your obedience.

One afternoon, as Hanaya and Hiroto linger after school, amid the fun and laughter, Hiroto admits the weight he feels—the steep cost of truly following Jesus. It’s the same crossroads each of us must face: surrender or self.

Perhaps today you find yourself in that place, visited by change you didn’t expect—or maybe never wanted. The future feels uncertain. Questions of provision, purpose, and direction press heavy. Yet right here, in this very moment, God sets before you a hinge point. Your surrender today could swing open the door to the destiny He designed for you. Say yes. Step forward. Trust Him. He is already on the other side—waiting to meet you there.

Be encouraged and challenged as you listen to this clip.

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

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Hey, perfect timing. Hop on.

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Uh hop on? Where are you even going?

SPEAKER_01 0:07

Uh, top secret mission? Won't take long.

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Uh I I don't know. I should probably head home. My mom's expecting me, you know.

SPEAKER_01 0:15

Relax. You'll be home before she even notices. Promise. Here, hand our bags to the guard. We'll pick them up later.

SPEAKER_00 0:21

If we get in trouble, it's on you.

SPEAKER_01 0:22

Okay, deal. Now let's go.

SPEAKER_00 0:26

Well, this isn't too bad. But can you slow down a bit? If you're scared, stop grabbing the seat and hold on to me. Huh. Nice try. I will manage just fine, thanks. Actually, this feels good. So, where exactly are we going?

SPEAKER_01 0:39

A brand new pizza place just opened. Heard their cheese pool is insane. So thought of treating you there.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

Pizza? That's your secret mission?

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Hey, pizza's never boring. Let's test out some new flavors.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Fine. But only if I get to pick all the toppings. You brought enough cash, right?

SPEAKER_01 0:55

Yeah. We'll grab it to go and eat at the beach.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Hmm. Whoa, this is really good. Way better than I expected.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

It was worth getting kidnapped, huh?

SPEAKER_00 1:06

Heh, totally worth it.

SPEAKER_01 1:09

So, how's your mom doing?

SPEAKER_00 1:11

She's good. Just super busy. The girl at our bookstore quit, so now mom's handling everything by herself. And even though we've got someone managing the flower shop, she still shows up there every morning like it's her happy place. Honestly, flowers are her true love. Books are her side crush.

SPEAKER_01 1:30

Haha. But still, running two businesses, that's a lot of work. Do you ever help out?

SPEAKER_00 1:34

Yeah, pretty often. If you stop by either shop, there's a good chance you'll see me, behind the counter or messing with bouquets. Between the two, I'm definitely more of a bookstore person.

SPEAKER_01 1:45

And do you actually get paid? Or is it just like, thanks, kid, here's dinner.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

She pays me by the hour. But don't get excited. It's not big money. Some days the sales are great. Some days it's quiet.

SPEAKER_01 1:58

What? You mean you don't get rich selling books and tulips? My whole future plan just collapsed.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

Ha, sorry to crush your dreams.

SPEAKER_01 2:05

Eh, whatever. I'll just marry into a bookstore florist empire.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Heh, yeah, keep dreaming.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

Still, it's pretty cool. While the rest of us are just hitting karaoke, game centers, cafes, anime marathons, you're actually learning stuff and making money.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Yeah, I guess it's cool. Even if it means I know way more about flower arrangements and book inventory than I ever wanted to. How are things at home?

SPEAKER_01 2:28

Uh, not good.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

What happened?

SPEAKER_01 2:30

My parents basically told me if I don't drop the whole Jesus Bible Christian thing, and if I don't follow their plan for my life, they'll cut me off. Like, no inheritance. Nothing. Everything goes to my brother. I don't know if they're bluffing or if they're actually serious, but it's a lot to lose.

SPEAKER_00 2:47

That's crazy. I'm sure they love you, but why would they go that far?

SPEAKER_01 2:51

Because they're obsessed with appearances, you know, keeping up the whole perfect family thing. They will not tolerate anyone or anything disrupting their status quo. They want me to follow their shiny picture-perfect script. And anything that doesn't fit their success dream for my life, totally unacceptable. And I know they love me, but honestly, it feels selfish. They think I'm throwing my future away. Or worse, that you somehow brainwashed me or something. They even threatened to get the school to mess with you if I don't stay away. And I'm pretty sure people are already spying on us, like those jealous girls whose moms are besties with mine. That's why I avoided you. Well, partly. Mostly I was still mad about what you said last time, but I'm okay now.

SPEAKER_00 3:33

Spying? For real? What is this? A K drama? Though for the record, I'd make a pretty convincing evil mastermind if I was brainwashing you. But seriously, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did that day. I didn't think it through. I didn't mean to hurt you.

SPEAKER_01 3:51

Not gonna lie, you weren't wrong after all. When it got real, I saw that pushing back is no joke. Way harder than I thought.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

So, what are you going to do?

SPEAKER_01 4:00

It's not like I will walk away from Jesus. But sometimes the world feels like this giant river trying to drag me downstream. And honestly, money's like this shiny bait on a hook. I know it isn't evil in itself, it's just a tool. Family wealth, real estate, all that can be useful. I feel like it's my right to get my inheritance from my parents. I'm worried about losing it.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

But that's where it gets tricky. You don't want to end up obsessed with it and lose what really matters. You know what? Just give your life away.

SPEAKER_01 4:28

Uh, sounds like a cult slogan.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

What I mean is stop clinging to your rights all the time.

SPEAKER_01 4:34

Wait, so you're saying if I get the last slice of pizza, I'm supposed to just give it to you?

SPEAKER_00 4:39

Exactly. So hand it over.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

Yeah, right. Try me when I'm fully stuffed.

SPEAKER_00 4:45

But seriously, the biggest idol out there? Money. But idols aren't just about what you love, they're what you trust instead of God. That's the test. Who do you actually trust the most? That's what separates real faith from fake faith. Jesus said, if you love your father, mother, or anyone more than me, you're not worthy of me. If anyone wants to follow me, they need to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow. Whoever tries to save their life will lose it, but whoever gives up their life for me will find it.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

What does it mean to take up your cross?

SPEAKER_00 5:19

Jesus is saying, give up your right to yourself. Come and die, be willing to die, be willing to be misunderstood, be willing to suffer shame, be willing to lose everything. The cross is the symbol of death. It is the acceptance of the will of God, even when it hurts, even when it costs. It can be lived out in a thousand ways. It isn't just about making some grand heroic sacrifices, it can be in the small, quiet sacrifices no one else sees. Jesus said, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Everyone's about my rights, self-care, self-love, find yourself. But Jesus flips it. His invitation is not to misery, it is to abundant life, but abundance on his terms, not ours. Here's the paradox. It is only through death that we receive life. Only by losing ourselves that we find ourselves. Only by laying down our lives that we discover joy.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Those words of Jesus hit hard. Not fighting for my inheritance, I feel I deserve as a son. That's a tough one. Because it feels like if I don't take control and hold on tight, I will just lose out.

SPEAKER_00 6:33

Jesus gave up control too. He laid his life down willingly. And look at the result: salvation, life for all of us. David wrote, Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure. So whatever portion you've been given, your life, your circumstances, he can make it well with your soul. Real freedom is surrender. Trusting Him instead of clutching everything. The goal isn't just getting to some comfy sweet spot in life. Because if that's all we chase, we'll probably dodge God's will, especially when it calls for sacrifice.

SPEAKER_01 7:08

But the loss, it really hurts, you know.

SPEAKER_00 7:10

Yes, it does, but the pain is so short-lived. The Bible says, godliness with contentment is great gain. Those painful moments are actually building for us an eternal weight of glory we can't even imagine. The stuff we see now is temporary, but the unseen things, they're eternal. Remember the rich young guy who asked Jesus what he had to do to get eternal life? He had everything money, influence, the lifestyle. But when Jesus told him to give it up and follow him, he walked away. He missed the chance of a lifetime. If he had let go of what he loved most, he could have traded temporary stuff for treasures that last forever, and his name would have been remembered in God's Hall of Fame. Think about Moses too. He could have stayed in Egypt, enjoying all the luxury and power, but instead, he gave it up to follow God's plan. And now Moses is remembered as one of the greatest heroes of faith. Think about Abraham. He left everything familiar, wandering without knowing where he was going, just because he wanted to be part of what God was building, not people. And later, when God asked him to give up his most precious treasure, his son Isaac, Abraham still said yes. That's love for God, holding nothing back, being willing to sacrifice anything to obey him. We always want people to see us. That's why we chase instant validation. But the real goal isn't being seen by people, it's being seen by God. Him looking at your life and saying, I see you trusting me, I see you obeying me. The stuff you hold on to can hold you back. Don't trade God's best for temporary things. Let go, and you'll gain something the world can't ever take away.

SPEAKER_01 8:54

Wow, that's powerful. Honestly, I don't want my whole life to just be me checking off my parents' expectations. Like, what's the point of climbing the ladder of success if it's leaning on the wrong wall? I don't want to drift so far downstream that one day I wake up wondering, how did I end up here? I want to live out God's will. At the end of the day, I'll stand before Jesus. And being faithful to him is way better than just looking successful to my parents or the world.

SPEAKER_00 9:26

Exactly. Life is war. Paul even said at the end of his life, I fought the good fight. It is the fight to stay faithful. That's what this is. It's like rowing upstream nonstop, while the world and even your own heart keep trying to drag you the other way.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

Yeah, true. Uh, are we doing something wrong right now, like in God's eyes?

SPEAKER_00 9:50

What? No, of course not. That's such a random question.

SPEAKER_01 9:54

So, what do you feel in this moment? Like when we're together, do you feel God's joy in it? Or does it feel kind of off?

SPEAKER_00 10:01

Um, I I actually feel his peace right now. His presence is here. I feel God's pleasure.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

You know, I think we chase after so many reasons, doubts, what-ifs, and it just twists our hearts into knots. But our story's still unfolding. Tomorrow isn't ours to worry about. I had this perfect picture in my mind, and when it didn't happen, I felt like I failed. At you, at myself. I got upset. But then I remembered something you said at the beach the first time we really talked.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

You said, So what if we fail? No failure is final, it's just a temporary event in life. When it all seems lost, we may realize, no, actually, this is the beginning of something new and better. And when our ideal expectations are not met, we start falling apart. The most important character ability is resilience to adversity. Are we going to be a leaf at the mercy of the wind and just land wherever?

SPEAKER_01 11:00

Those words stuck with me. And you know, joy and gratitude, they're choices. They're not tied to whether things go the way we want. So, I'm grateful. Grateful you never said you don't like me. Whether that means you see me just as a friend, a fellow believer, or as more, I don't know. But this moment, right now, it's a gift from God. And maybe he is revealing something to me, to you, in this moment. He gives us what we need in the present, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now. So instead of wasting energy on fear, fear of rejection, of loss, of failure, and longing for some confession of love from you, I'd rather fight. If it hurts, it hurts. At least I won't regret not trying. I don't need all the answers. I'll never resent you no matter what. I will fight for my faith, for my calling, for you, for us. Like Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. I'll work for this. Let's not overthink the ending. Let's just run free and see where God leads. So will you walk with me in this? Not rushing ahead, not weighed by tomorrow, just step by step, heart to heart.

SPEAKER_00 12:03

Uh, yeah, I I will, but do you even have a plan?

SPEAKER_01 12:06

I will be visiting my grandma soon. Can you come with me?

SPEAKER_00 12:09

Wait, your grandma? Uh, why me?

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Well, if my parents won't support me studying where you're going, maybe she will. That's why I need her to meet you.

SPEAKER_00 12:17

What? You're actually serious about this?

SPEAKER_01 12:20

Yeah. Been thinking about it for a while. I feel God nudging me in this direction. I think he will make a way. And one more thing. Isn't your aunt that adventure biker with a huge YouTube following?

SPEAKER_00 12:30

Yeah, she's like a big deal in the biking world.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

Perfect. Can you connect me with her?

SPEAKER_00 12:34

You're not seriously going to ask her for money, right? What is this? Shark Tank Missions Edition?

SPEAKER_01 12:41

No. Well, maybe that's plan B. But nah, I've got another reason. I'll explain later. Just can you give me her number? Fine.

SPEAKER_00 12:47

But you better not keep me in the dark, okay?

SPEAKER_01 12:50

Promise. Uh, so shall we head back?

SPEAKER_00 12:52

Yeah, but let's stop by the convenience store first. Ice cream's on me.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

More time with you and free ice cream? How could I ever say no?

SPEAKER_00 13:01

All right, let's go.