I was running down the railroad tracks near my apartment and almost tripped over a large, rusty, railroad spike. As I picked it up and turned it over in my hands, the words of Jesus came to my mind: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).
'But Jesus', I cried... 'It is so hard. The cross is so heavy. How can I, who am so very weak, carry such a huge burden? Why would you want me to struggle underneath such a cumbersome load?'
Almost instantly, the Lord brought another Scripture to my mind: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30)
Wow.
Jesus does command us to take up our cross each day, but then He tells us to come to Him with our burdens! He also says that we can learn from Him and find rest for our souls. What a blessing that is to my heart.
