What if the narrow gate isn’t what you think?
why real faith looks less like effort and more like surrender
“Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14)
“We know that a person is made right with God by the faith of Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law… For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”(Galatians 2:16)
Most people assume the narrow gate is about morality. That the “hard road” is the path of self-discipline, clean living, right beliefs, and religious effort.
But what if that’s actually the broad road?
What if trying harder to be holy—in your own strength—is just another version of taking the wide path?
The Great Lie: You’re in control
From the very beginning, humanity’s downfall wasn’t wild rebellion. It was something far more subtle: the desire to take control.
In the Garden, Adam and Eve weren’t lured by obvious chaos or evil. They were tempted to grasp what they thought was good—on their terms. To stop waiting on God. To stop trusting what He said was true.
It wasn’t sinfulness or legalism—it was the same root: action over trust.
And we still do it.
Some of us reach for control through indulgence. We say: “I’m going to do what I want. I know best. I’ll take what looks good to me.”
Others reach for control through morality. We say: “I’m going to do what’s right. I’ll fix myself. I’ll earn God’s favor.”
But both of these are the wide road. They’re still about you. Your control. Your effort. Your way.
The Narrow Gate Is Trust
The true narrow gate—the one Jesus describes—isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about letting go.
It’s about doing the one thing that is almost impossibly hard for humans to do: trust Jesus instead of yourself.
Trust that His righteousness is enough.
Trust that His death paid for your sin.
Trust that His resurrection gave you life.
Trust that He is faithful—even when you’re not.
This kind of trust isn’t passive. It’s not lazy. It’s the most counter-cultural, upside-down way to live in a world that worships self-determination.
It requires faith that you can’t manufacture on your own. And that’s the good news:
“A person is made right with God by the faith of Jesus…”
Even the faith we need to walk this narrow road isn’t ours to muster. It’s a gift.
A Prayer for the Narrow Way
Jesus, lend me your faith today.
I confess that I’m tempted to take control—through indulgence or effort.
Help me trust you instead.
Help me wait on you.
Help me rest in your finished work.
Lead me through the narrow gate, again and again.
If this spoke to you, consider sharing it with someone else who’s tired of trying to be enough.
Let them know: the narrow road isn’t about doing more. It’s about trusting the One who already did everything.