Help Me, Carry My Cross
Wednesday, November 5
Psalm 56:3-7 (NKJV)
“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God!”
Devotion
Must it always be people? Might it be our own weaknesses and shortcomings, when the flesh and our own thoughts seem more convincing than the Word of God?
Resistance and adversity attempting to thwart us in our maturing in the Lord—the contrary forces coming against us—can only be successful if the weight itself is greater than ourselves and our own strength.
Simon the Cyrene, found in Matthew 27:32, was not called, appointed, or anointed by God to help Jesus carry His cross. Simon was forced by the Roman guard to help Jesus shoulder the burden and weight.
The cross was heavy, difficult, and burdensome. Simon was pulled from the crowd only after Jesus fell from its weight.
How often do we fall under the weight of sin or circumstances beyond our control—when we are worn out and exhausted from worrying about our children, where they are, if they are okay?
The endless hours in the hospital family room, waiting for a word from the doctor?
At times, that cross becomes unbearable. We disdain it and loathe it. This is not something we would volunteer to do. And yet, our Jesus will always volunteer to help you carry yours.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You that Jesus is with me, even when I can't sense Him, hear Him, or see Him. Help me to trust and obey, even when things don't seem to make sense. Though I lament when people twist my words and scheme for my ruin, help me remember to defend You and Your truth, and trust You to defend me. As You brought Saul to repentance and trust and made him a friend to Your people, bring even my enemies to repentance and trust, and make them friends to those who trust in Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, I pray.
Apply It Today
Pastor Franklin pointed out that when the Israelites were wandering in the desert after coming out of Egypt, they did not receive the benefit of the adversity because they did not combine it with faith (Hebrews 4:2). Seek the Lord in adversity, and ask for the treasure to be produced from it (1 Peter 1:6–7).
Resources
- Read 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, and be encouraged, knowing that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.