“Am I a true disciple of Jesus?” “Am I doing the right things in my walk with Christ?” “Am I experiencing God as I should?”

If you have asked these questions, you are not alone. Even mature Christians, those who have walked with Christ for years, will have had similar questions at some point. Not only are they normal, but they also are indicators of the inclination of your heart to please God, to know that he is near and that you are walking in the right direction.

This reality reminds me of the walks I take with my youngest son, Nicholas. When we aren’t walking fast enough to suit him, he’ll beg to run ahead. I consent, but even as his feet pound ahead of me, I catch him glancing back, looking for me, making sure that I’m still there.

He needs to feel safe, and this sideways glance immediately informs him that he is within my reach. I call this “distance security,” and it’s a practice that we can incorporate into our experiential walk with God.

What Living in Albania Has Taught Me About Following Jesus

While believers worldwide share many commonalities, walking with Jesus in Albania presents its own unique challenges and struggles. According to the most recent census in 2023, 51% of the population identified as Muslim, 16% identified as Catholic, Orthodox, or Evangelical, 17% identified as atheist, and 16% didn’t declare their beliefs. Only 35 years ago, Albania was the only atheist country in the world because the Communist regime had forbidden the practice of any religion.  

These features make Albania a place where preaching the gospel and declaring that Jesus is God can offend Muslims, make you seem like an extremist or narrow-minded, or cause unbelievers to laugh at you. Those who aren’t offended or amused are mostly uninterested. Sadly, the majority of people place their hope and trust in the wrong things, searching for security in money, material possessions, politics, or pleasure, only to discover that these things cannot bring genuine joy and will only leave them feeling disappointed.

Still, despite these challenges, I believe following Jesus is a joy, no matter where you live. It’s a joy that comes through fellowship with Jesus and surpasses borders, cultures, and even difficult conditions of life. This joy is produced within the heart and is not dependent on outward circumstances. It cannot be produced by the world, even with all its creativity, power, and pleasure.

Rooted In God’s Word

Living in Albania, I’ve learned that to truly follow Jesus requires being rooted in God’s Word and constantly filled with the Holy Spirit. This enables me to love and be patient with others who believe differently than me, such as Muslims.