Have you ever been walking into a building and a young mom ahead of you is trying to juggle a toddler, a stroller, and a diaper bag?  Her hands are full, and she can’t open the door.  Our typical response, “Here, let me get the door for you”.

John 19:16b-17 (NIV) “So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull…”

Imagine Jesus carrying his own cross after a long night of several trials, scourging’s, and beatings, not to mention being abandoned by those closest to Him.  He still had to bear His cross…alone.

Are you bearing any crosses alone?  The weight of them heavy and burdensome.  The crosses we bear could include worry, fear, anxiety.  Sometimes, the crosses are physical.  Some are temporary and others may affect us our whole lives.

Paul carried a cross.  He doesn’t mention what kind of cross he had but it was “a thorn in his side”.  II Corinthians 12

On the way to calvary, when Jesus could go on no longer, the soldiers forced a man to carry the cross and Jesus was relieved of the burden He bore. 

Mark 15:21 (NIV) “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.”

God does the same for us.  Even if, like Paul, our thorn in our flesh is not taken away.  We still have a God Who will lighten the load and help us carry our cross.

I Peter 5:6-10 (NIV) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

~ Take it to heart ~

“I cast all my cares upon You ~ I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet
And any time I don’t know what to do ~ I will cast all my cares upon You”