One Cross at a Time
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? — Matthew 16:24-26
One of the enemy's most effective strategies in today’s world is convincing us to carry more than one cross at a time. He does this with a cunning purpose: when we're overburdened with multiple crosses, he can present temptations as a way to put them down, offering false relief from the very weight he encouraged us to take on.
As humans, we are bound by time, perceiving it linearly through past, present, and future—a perspective fundamentally different from God's eternal view. Though the enemy isn't constrained by time as we are, he expertly exploits our temporal nature, burdening us with crosses from our past and anxieties about crosses yet to come.
Through worry and fear, we forget a simple truth: these burdens cannot all manifest simultaneously. Some crosses have already been carried, while others may never materialize. Yet in attempting to shoulder them all, we exhaust ourselves trying to manufacture extra patience, fortitude, and strength. This directly contradicts Jesus's clear instruction: "Take no thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow shall take thought for things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6:34) With these words, Jesus reveals that worry is not only unnecessary but unproductive.
When we occupy ourselves with hypothetical crosses—burdens that exist only in our minds—we take on weight that God never intended us to bear. I believe God's assistance diminishes with these self-imposed burdens. Consider the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), where we're taught to ask for our "daily bread." This isn't merely about physical sustenance; it represents everything God provides to sustain us through each day.
The emphasis on "daily" is no accident—God's provision is intentionally measured in daily portions. This divine rationing has profound significance: we are closest to God in the present moment, in the Now. It's here, in this moment, where our relationship with Him is most intimate and our faith most active.
Why does God prefer this daily approach? Two profound reasons emerge. First, we simply aren't strong enough to bear multiple crosses. Our human limitations are not a design flaw but a feature that draws us closer to God. Second, when we attempt to carry multiple crosses, we inadvertently deny God the opportunity to demonstrate how His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). God desires our genuine dependence on Him because He alone is infinite, along with His good gifts. Our finite nature means we will invariably fall short when relying on our own strength.
Faith in God isn't just counted as righteousness—it's the profound recognition that our infinite God can and does act within our finite world. Jesus offered this beautiful invitation in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
The remarkable truth about carrying one cross at a time is that Jesus has already blazed this trail. He carried the ultimate cross, making our daily crosses "light work" in comparison. When we find ourselves struggling under multiple crosses, it's often pride, fear, or doubt at work rather than faithful obedience. If you're wondering why God seems distant or unresponsive to your struggles, perhaps it's time to examine how many crosses you're attempting to bear. The path to peace might begin with simply letting go and embracing the grace of carrying just one cross—today's cross—with Jesus by your side.