Do you ever think about your life looking back as far as you can remember? Can you recall the people who have come and gone and the events that have impacted your life? Our lives are really like a book with many or maybe just a few chapters. The introduction tells when your life on the earth begins. The chapters will vary depending on how long you have lived, and how many changes have occurred. The chapters follow the stages of growing and maturing, leaving home, working a new job, getting married or starting a new career. There may also be other circumstances in your life leading to new beginnings such as a serious illness or the loss of loved ones. As you leave this earth, you complete your final chapter.
Looking through your book, you may see that each chapter brings changes, more challenges, and often more struggles. Regardless of the author, every autobiography will show that no life is without difficult times, but it will always tell the life of someone who was an important part of our world.
Everyone’s book will include their crosses. One’s crosses are those things they struggle with in their body, mind, or spirit and come in many forms. Sometimes it is a physical one like a chronic health issue, sometimes an emotional one like a difficult relationship, or a spiritual one like a strong temptation. Our crosses can also come from the choices of others which had an impact on us. Some crosses last for many years or even a lifetime, while others are for a short time. Our different crosses come and go.
In our human nature we often become discouraged, confused, angry, or frustrated when life gets difficult, and we may feel like God is not helping us. God loves us with a great compassion and mercy, but he waits for us to bring our struggles to him, for in our weakness, he is our strength.
We may often think we can take care of things ourselves, but if we turn it all over to God, we find he will give us all that we need. Doing so does not mean our burdens will suddenly get easier, but God will be with us at every step. In his mercy he would never leave us and will send others to help us along the way.
We often suffer with our crosses, but our crosses make us very strong. We may not realize it until later, but God grants us strength through our hardest times. Through our struggles, God gives us understanding and wisdom to help others as they encounter their own crosses. Don’t be surprised to meet others along your path with struggles like your own, for God does not let us waste what he has taught us. We are expected to comfort and encourage others with an understanding of what they are going through. Others will watch how we handle our difficult times. As we put our faith into action, we can help others to trust God with their own burdens.
If we look around at other people’s crosses, we will see some lighter than ours and others heavier. Perhaps you have read the story of the man who complained to God about his cross and asked for a different one. So, God took him to a place that had many crosses and told him to pick out the one he wanted. The man looked over all the crosses and saw some quite large ones and others that were smaller. Then in the corner he saw a very small cross and told God that was the one he wanted. However, God replied, “My child, that is the cross you already have.”
We must be gentle and patient with ourselves as God is with us. God never said our life would be without problems, but has promised he would be with us, and our reward would be great. 1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him.”
We are all here to love and help each other with their crosses. Everyone we meet is fighting some kind of battle and carrying a heavy load, so be compassionate and encouraging. Loving and caring for each other is a way we can leave an impact on the world.
Looking back over the chapters of your book, will you feel you loved enough, cared enough, helped enough? Will others know that you knew God and his love? Will your cross inspire others and teach them that no matter what life brings, love is always the answer, and God is our strength? Hang in there and never give up for God never gives up on you. In a world of much sorrow and hardships, your legacy of faith and love is the greatest gift you can leave this world. May people always remember your kindness and pass it on to others.
Copyright © 2024 Marsha Luke – Rights for non-commercial reproduction granted: May be copied in its entirety, but neither retyped nor edited.