My Little Cross for Jesus

If you think I am strong, you don’t know me very well. When the world feels like it is crashing down around me (as it does right now) I feel at a loss. I simply don’t know what I should do. If I am left to myself, I will crumble; only the strength of the Lord will see me through. The scriptures invite me to carry my little cross, to my little Golgotha; yet I feel so weak. Jesus said:

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ( Mark 8:34 )

Who else would I follow if not Jesus? I am with the Apostle Peter, when he said, “we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” ( John 6:69 ). Knowing Jesus is the Christ gives me strength beyond my own. In years gone by the trials I now face would have crushed me, and yet I know if left to myself they still would. Only by the strength, goodness, and mercy of Jesus Christ do I move forward in faith. If I take my mind off Him for a moment, I want to scream. The spiritual calisthenics I’m currently involved in I have never experienced before, yet I know if I remain faithful, the Lord will strengthen me beyond what I might think is possible.

The Lord Jesus Christ is Amazing!

It amazes me how the Lord Jesus Christ so bravely carried His cross without murmur or complaint with the weight of the world crushing down on Him. Jesus did not like what He had to do, “ Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done ” ( Luke 22:42 ) and so, He did it anyway. When I really consider the description of His suffering I find it difficult to read without emotion when He said:

Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. ( D&C 19:18-19 )

My Little Cross for Him

When I read of His courage and submissiveness, and I think of His majesty and greatness, then I think in my heart how I want to do ALL that He asks of me. When I fall short—and I often do—I take courage knowing that He knows me. He knows all of my weaknesses and yet He still loves me. He continually invites me to follow Him. Jesus bore the big heavy cross for me; I will bear this little cross for Him.

 

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