THE CUP OF SUFFERING

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it" (Luke 9:23-24).

What crosses do you bear daily?

Some people bear crosses that require subtle acts of patience—refraining from snapping back at someone who offends or holding one's temper in an exhaustinly long line at the bank. Others bear crosses that call for simple acts of kindness—running an errand for a spouse who is exhausted, or yielding to another car in heavy traffic.

Every decision to prefer someone else's needs above our own, to relinquish our "rights" and yield to the ways of God, becomes a practical altar of sacrifice to the Lord.

Still there are other crosses that are not as easy to bear, crosses that we don't choose for ourselves, rather they are assigned to our lives and reveal the level of our faith in Christ. Sometimes these crosses are called our "lots in life." They are often characterized by circumstances or conditions we find ourselves powerless to change, despite our greatest efforts or prayers. These crosses are the "thorns in our flesh" that produce chronic pain, be it low grade or overtly disabling. Jesus warned us of these crosses and how they are a mark of the Christian life.

Anyone who has suffered for a prolonged period of time knows the anguish of soul that is born out of deep adversity. Our natural inclination is to escape our crosses. If we could, we would throw them off of our backs (unlike the One who willingly carried His to save our lives). But if we refuse to allow God to bear the load with us, we will experience a crisis of faith.

How do we refuse God? By avoiding Him when we are in pain. By becoming rooted in anger and bitterness. By demanding our way. By turning inward instead of upward. By fixing our eyes on the storm instead of fixing our eyes on the Lord.

Consider the night of Jesus' arrest. When a league of rebels tried to seize Him, the Apostle Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant with a sword. Christ knew full well the atrocities to come, yet instead of commending Peter for his allegiance He rebuked His disciple and said, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?” (John 18:11).

When we suffer, do we agree to drink the cup God has assigned us? Or do we expect to drink only cups of blessings and joy?

For our faith to mature, we must come to the place where, like Christ, we are willing to accept our unchangeable "lots" and to embrace our crosses by seeking God for the strength, courage and faith to believe that in Him, death always leads to life.