Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24 NLT
In 2006 my wife passed away from cancer. It was a bitter pill for me to swallow. She had been my partner in life and ministry for almost 30 years. Holding her hand when she died was probably the single most painful moment I have ever experienced. If I’m honest, it would have been easy for me to blame God. I could have blamed Him for her sickness. I could have blamed Him for taking her too soon. And trust me, all these thoughts ran through my mind.
However, the best response to suffering in this world is not to bitterly blame God, but to humbly look to God for His mercy, comfort, and grace. The Bible promises that if we look to Him, we’ll find Him.
Deuteronomy 4:29 assures us, “But from there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him.”
My earthly suffering always reminds me of Jesus’ suffering on the cross. We don’t have to run from suffering or even death because He defeated it when He died for us, and it will be gone completely, never to be felt again, when He returns. We can face suffering with confidence, knowing that through His great love for us, He has saved us.
If you’re a believer, daily taking up your cross and following Him, suffering comes with the territory. But let me tell you, there’s no way I’d want to face life’s biggest storms without Jesus. No matter the suffering I’ve experienced, I’ve always discovered the kindness of God in the middle of my pain.
Is our world full of unimaginable suffering and pain? Absolutely. But we serve a God who overcame the world, and He is our greatest hope.
Dig Deeper
1. In what specific ways has Jesus been faithful to you during difficult trials and suffering?
2. What does taking up your cross and following Christ in the midst of suffering look like on a practical level?
