Are you showing up for Jesus?

You have to SHOW UP. That seems to be the most important element of so many “success stories” I’ve heard over the years.

In college, when I was just getting into the TV News world, I met an incredible woman named Triston Sanders. She was my Broadcasting News 101 professor and a local TV News anchor. She also became my mentor for the next few years, helping me land my first job at a TV station and get quickly promoted to head producer in just a couple of years.

I’ll never forget her stories of how she got jobs at major TV networks in Florida and even a position at CNN in Atlanta. Her secret? She just kept showing up!

She didn’t back down. She didn’t make excuses. She stayed “top of mind” for important individuals until she got what she wanted. One rejection was never going to send her packing.

Then, just recently, I met actress, bestselling author, and communication coach Renee Marino. (You might know her from a little film called Jersey Boys!) She spoke at a retreat I attended last month and shared the story of how she got her role in Jersey Boys and became besties with Clint Eastwood.

At the time, she played that exact same role in the Broadway version of Jersey Boys. But when they began casting for the film, she wasn’t even on the list to audition for that role. They wanted her for another, less significant role. 

Renee was astounded that this was happening and she admitted to feeling defeated at first.

But then she decided to just show up at the audition for the role she wanted anyway. And she landed it!

Two strong women tell stories of achieving their goals and living out their purpose by SHOWING UP when it mattered.

Many of my own achievements came from consistently showing up… on social media, on podcasts, in emails, etc.

And it got me thinking – are we showing up for Jesus like that too?

No matter what?

Even on the hard days? Even on the good days? (Sometimes it seems like it’s easier to run to Jesus on the hard days when we really feel like we need Him. And then we forget about Him on the good days when it’s smooth sailing.)

Are we showing up for Jesus when we’re tired? When we’re busy?

Jesus always shows up for us. Always. We never have to doubt that.

Are we giving Him the same level of commitment? Are we living out the Great Commission, the thing He asked us to show up for?

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:16-20

I think it’s worth considering. Are we showing up for Jesus?

And how do we do that? 

I certainly don’t have an exhaustive list, but I think it starts with:

• Daily quiet time with Jesus
• Learning His Word
• Trusting Him
• Teaching our kids about Him
• Telling others about Him when we get the chance
• Leading with love in everything we do

What would you add to that list? This year I want to show up for Jesus more than ever before. And I know He’ll keep showing up for me too.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39