Carrying a Cross of Pain & Heartache...

Do we truly know what it means to deny oneself…to pick up a cross and follow Jesus? In Luke 9:23, we read… “And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” I truly believe that this verse not only relates to our lives in general; but in other ways too.
 
One thing we all need to ask ourselves today is this…while walking through moments of pain and deep heartache…are we willing to walk the long, difficult and narrow passageways of life; that we may gain Christ and an eternal home in heaven…at the end of this journey? To me, this is another way of taking up our cross daily. When life isn’t always easy; but yet we are still willing to remain true and faithful to God through it all; then I believe that we have chosen to pick up our cross and follow Him.
 
I don’t know about you; but there have been many times in my life, when the cross was very heavy and there were many steep hills to climb…and there were even many times, when I was tempted to lay down my cross and lie down beside it and give up; but yet…at the same time; there was something that was keeping me standing through it all…and I have no doubt that it was Jesus…taking hold, of the heaviest part of that cross.
 
You know…Jesus never said that we would be free from troubles; but He did say that He would be with us. Today, if the cross of illness…pain or deep heartache is just too much to bear…don’t give up; but rather turn to the One, who truly understands what it’s like to carry a cross…and I know that He will come running, to help you through the narrow passageways of life.
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