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Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” — Matthew 16:24
We’ve all faced moments when the weight of suffering felt unbearable. Who among us hasn’t experienced the grief of losing a loved one or watched cherished dreams shatter into pieces? The crosses we carry should always remind us of Jesus and the Cross He bore. He walked a road marked with betrayal, pain, and sorrow. He was kissed by a traitor, nailed to a tree, and laid in a borrowed tomb. From the outside, it looked like complete defeat. But His story wasn’t over because God was writing another ending. Just beyond the Cross, in that garden tomb, angels were waiting for Day Three. When the stone rolled away, hope broke through the darkness. Death was defeated, and life triumphed. What looked like loss became the greatest victory the world has ever known. This truth applies to the crosses we carry as well. Every one of us faces struggles. It may be a health crisis, the sting of betrayal, financial hardship, or hidden battles no one else can see. These crosses can feel crushing. They leave scars and whisper lies that nothing will ever change, that joy will never return. But the message of the Gospel is this: there is victory just beyond the cross. The psalmist declared, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). What feels like the end of the story is often the beginning of a new chapter God is writing. The grave was the darkest place imaginable, but it became the very stage for resurrection. When we trust Jesus with our crosses, we begin to see that love is stronger than hate, forgiveness is greater than bitterness, and life has the final word over death. Paul reminds us, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). What we see now is temporary, but what God is working is eternal. I don’t know what cross you’re carrying today, but I do know this: your story isn’t finished. Just beyond your suffering, God is preparing resurrection hope. Just beyond your tears, He is writing joy. Just beyond your loss, He is shaping victory. The road may be hard, and the cross heavy, but Christ has already walked ahead of you. Because of Him, love makes the journey worth the cost. So let fresh faith rise in your heart. Lift your eyes from the shadows of Calvary to the light of the empty tomb. What looks like loss, God will redeem. Because just beyond the cross, life is waiting.
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When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the sick man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5)
Do you remember your mother or grandmother borrowing a cup of sugar, some flour, or a few eggs from a neighbor when you were young? I do. As a kid, I was grateful when our neighbors had what we lacked, because it meant supper could still be made or cookies could still be baked. Those moments taught me that sometimes, what you need most is just a little help from someone willing to share. Looking back, I realize those simple “borrowing moments” weren’t just about a few missing ingredients. They were lessons in community and generosity. When someone shared what they had, it reminded me that we weren’t alone. We belonged to a neighborhood where people looked out for one another. Just as a borrowed cup of sugar made a meal possible, “borrowed faith” can make hope possible. When our own faith runs low and our strength is nearly gone, God often uses someone else’s prayers, encouragement, or testimony to refill our empty cup. The Bible tells the story of a paralyzed man whose friends were so determined to bring him to Jesus that they tore a hole in the roof and lowered him right in front of the Lord. The amazing part is this: Scripture says, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” (Mark 2:5) Jesus responded to the faith of the friends. That’s what I mean by “borrowed faith.” It’s when someone else’s trust and faith in God becomes a bridge for another person’s breakthrough. Throughout Scripture, we see this same pattern. The centurion’s servant was healed because his master believed. (Matthew 8:5-13) Jairus’ daughter lived because her father refused to give up hope. (Mark 5:21-43) The Canaanite woman’s daughter was delivered because her mother persisted in faith. (Matthew 15:21-28) Again and again, God honored the faith of one person on behalf of another. God knows there will be times when life is hard and our faith is weak, so He surrounds us with people who will stand in the gap and believe for us. If your faith feels fragile today, don’t be ashamed. Borrow some. Lean on the prayers of a friend, the encouragement of your church family, or the promises written in God’s Word. Faith can be as contagious as chicken pox. When we hear the testimonies of others, our broken hearts begin to beat and believe again. And someday, when someone else’s faith is faltering, you’ll have the joy of lending yours and believing for them in the storm they face. Borrowed faith reminds us that we were never meant to walk alone. God designed His family so that when one heart trembles, another stands firm. If you’re struggling today, take courage—someone is praying, believing, and holding you up. And before long, the faith you borrowed will become the faith you lend to someone who is hurting. It’s amazing how quickly Thanksgiving comes and goes, and suddenly we’re stepping into the Christmas season once more. I always find myself marveling at how time seems to speed up each year—maybe you feel that way too. The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us, filling our calendars before we even realize it. Before things get too busy, let’s pause together, take a deep breath, and remember to turn our hearts toward the One who was born in that humble stable in Bethlehem to save us.
After more than four decades of full-time ministry, my husband and I can testify to
this truth: ministry can be messy. No doubt about it. But seeing the precious ways Jesus moves in the hearts and lives of people makes it worth it all. As a child, I came from a home that desperately needed the church. Thankfully, my grandparents loved Jesus and stepped in to fill that role whenever they could. They made sure my two older brothers and I were at church every time the doors were open. For that, I am eternally grateful. Years later, after Paul and I accepted the call to serve the congregation of the Gospel Lighthouse, an older couple visited the church. As we talked, they began connecting the dots and realized we knew some of the same people. Eventually, they admitted that many years earlier they had heard about the urgent needs in my childhood family—but had chosen not to get involved because it was “too messy.” The Bible is full of examples showing how we should—and shouldn’t—respond when we see a need. As we enter this new year, let’s choose to respond in the right way. Let’s be for Jesus what we once needed someone to be for us. 1. Cain: When Cain asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:1-9) He was really saying, “Am I responsible for my brother?” Clearly, this was not the right response. 2. Jonah: When Jonah fled God’s call to go to Nineveh, he was saying, “I don’t want to get involved with those people.” (Jonah 1:1-3) Wrong again. 3. The Good Samaritan: When the priest and the Levite passed by the wounded man on the road to Jericho, they chose not to get involved. You can almost hear their excuses—too busy, too important, too burdened. (Luke 10:30-37) But the Good Samaritan responded the right way. He acted. 4. The Christmas story: When Jesus stepped into the mess of humanity, it cost Him His life. He could have refused to get involved with us. Instead, He became Emmanuel—God with us. (Matthew 1:23) Where would we be without His beautiful, sacrificial response? Christian involvement costs us time, money, effort—even blood, sweat, and tears. Christian leadership is “bleed”-ership. There’s no way around it. But as believers, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus—light and salt in this broken world. Even at Calvary, as Jesus hung on the cross, He was still seeing and meeting needs while He was dying. He thought of His mother and who would care for her: “Woman, here is your son.” He thought of the thief beside Him: “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” He thought of the soldiers: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And He looked ahead in time and thought of us. Let’s be more like Jesus—and experience the blessing of being involved in others’ lives, no matter how messy or costly it may be. The truth is simple: I’m a mess. You’re a mess. We’re all a mess. That’s why God sent the MESSiah. Sybil Leonard Armes captured it beautifully in this timeless poem: We cannot stay on the mountain While hearts in the lowlands bleed; Always there rises before us The valley’s bitter need. Some have no heights to remember; Out of their bondage they sigh. How shall we stay on the mountain, Deaf to the valley’s cry? We cannot stay on the mountain, Who have seen the lonely town; The cry of the valley has lifted-- Let us arise and go down. |
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