The Narrow Way

Everyone sees the flame.
But not everyone sees the oil.
Not everyone sees the breaking, the weeping, the hidden life behind the public light.

Because what burns in public is only as powerful as what’s tended in secret.

Jesus preached to thousands—
but He withdrew to lonely places.
He multiplied bread—
but first fasted in the wilderness.
He healed the crowds—
but first sweat blood in Gethsemane.

Because glory flows from the garden.
Fire falls on the hidden altar.

You can be impressive out loud—
and still be empty in private.

But the ones who last,
the ones who don’t burn out or sell out or break down—
are the ones who protect the secret place.

Matthew 6:6 says,
“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Your secret life is not second-tier.
It’s not less spiritual.
It’s not behind the scenes.
It is the scene.

Because God doesn’t anoint performance.
He anoints presence.

He doesn’t reward platform.
He rewards proximity.

So tend the fire when no one’s watching.
Worship when there’s no crowd.
Pray when there’s no spotlight.
Say yes when there’s no applause.

Because what you build with God in secret
becomes unshakable in the storm.
Unexplainable in the flesh.
Uncontainable in the Spirit.

The secret place is your anchor.
Your oil supply.
Your hiding place.
Your launching pad.

So if the public doors open—
bless God.

It’s not in what they see.
It’s in Who you seek.