Written by Joni Eareckson Tada, a contemporary artist, author, and ministry leader.
The Christian life can seem so impossible. Jesus tells us to take up our cross and follow him, but we are often clueless as to how to do it. We know Jesus doesn’t want us to stiffly resign ourselves to the weight of our cross or resentfully submit to the inconvenience of it. Or to cope with it or comply with a woe-is-me attitude. Even dry acceptance of one’s cross somehow seems less than what Jesus had in mind. The cross–whether yours or Christ’s–is all about crucifying sin. To take up your cross means to die tothe sins that Jesus died foron his cross. You don’t do that by resigning yourself or by submitting, yielding, coping, or complying. It’s not dryly accepting your burden. Rather, when you die to sin, you put to death everything. You die to comparing your lot in life with others who seem to have it easier. When you die to whining or constantly chafing against your afflictions, God strengthens you with his resurrection power, enabling you to miraculously prefer Christ over comfort, the Lord over leisure, and even embrace the Redeemer when there is no relief from pain. Only the power of the resurrection enables you to lift your cross with grace… When suffering nearly decimates you, when all looks dark and you wonder why you “signed up” for the Christian life in the first place-when grief numbs your soul and bitterness or despair foment in your heart–do not give up. Survey what Jesus did on his cross for you: at the cost of his own blood, he purchased the mighty strength of the resurrection for your impossible situation. And if God calls you into a deeper affliction, he will provide a deeper portion of Christ and his power.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [Matthew 16:24]
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