This Cross Ain’t Decorative!!!

We see crosses everywhere. Necklaces. Bracelets. Wall art. Church logos. Tattoos. Car decals. Some of them are gold, silver, wooden, polished, shiny, and nice enough to make you say, “That’s a good-looking cross right there.” And listen, I am not against any of that. A cross can be a beautiful reminder of our faith. But sometimes I wonder if we have gotten so used to seeing the cross as decoration that we forget Jesus talked about it as something to carry. And carrying is different from decorating. Decorating means I can place it where I want. Carrying means it affects how I walk. Decorating means it can be admired from a distance. Carrying means it has weight. Decorating can be comfortable. Carrying a cross usually is not.

Lord Jesus said in Luke 9:23 (NIV), “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” That is not one of those Scriptures we can just smile at and keep moving like it did not say what it said. Jesus said deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him. Not occasionally. Not only when life is easy. Not only when the prayers get answered the way we wanted. Not only when we feel strong, excited, encouraged, and spiritually organized. Daily. And if I am honest, that is where this walk gets real for me. Following Lord Jesus has not always felt easy. There have been times I have struggled with doubt. Times I have felt frustrated. Times I have had questions. Times I have wondered why something happened the way it did. Times I have prayed and still felt like I was waiting longer than I wanted to wait. And I know I am not the only one.

Sometimes we make the Christian walk sound like once you love God, everything becomes simple. Like you will never feel tired, confused, disappointed, or have a question. Like you will never feel the weight of obedience. But that is not real. The walk with Lord Jesus is beautiful, but it is not always easy. It is holy, but it is not always comfortable. It is worth it, but it is not always light on our feelings. And that is why we have to be honest with ourselves and with others. We can love God and still have questions. We can trust God and still feel frustrated. We can believe His Word and still have moments where our heart says, “Lord, I need help with this.” We can be following Jesus and still have days where the cross feels heavy. That does not mean we are fake. That means we are human.

But here is the encouragement: Jesus never asked us to carry the cross without following Him. He said, “take up their cross daily and follow me.” That means He is not sending us down a road He refuses to walk with us. He is not asking us to figure out faith by ourselves. He is not standing far away saying, “Let me know when you get it together.” No. He is leading. He is teaching. He is strengthening. He is correcting. He is comforting. He is walking with us.

The cross we carry may require surrender, but we are not carrying it alone. Sometimes picking up our cross means forgiving when our flesh wants revenge. Sometimes it means obeying when we would rather do what feels good. Sometimes it means staying faithful when nobody claps. Sometimes it means trusting God when we do not understand. Sometimes it means admitting, “Lord, I believe, but help me where I am struggling.” And sometimes it means being honest enough to say, “This is hard, but I still want to follow You.”

That kind of honesty matters. Because somebody needs to know they are not the only one who has struggled while trying to walk with God. Somebody needs to know that questions do not automatically mean they have quit. Somebody needs to know that frustration does not mean the Heavenly Father has abandoned them. Somebody needs to know that the cross may be heavy, but Lord Jesus is still worth following.

So no, this walk is not perfect. We are not perfect. We stumble. We wrestle. We learn. We repent. We grow. We keep going. And by the grace of God, we keep picking it up. Because the cross is not just something we admire. It is something we carry. And the One we follow is worth every step.

Next Step

Reflect on an area of your life where following Lord Jesus has felt difficult, heavy, or uncomfortable. Consider whether you have been trying to hide your doubts, frustrations, or questions instead of bringing them honestly before Him. Invite Lord Jesus to be your teacher in that specific area. Ask Him to help you pick up your cross daily with humility, honesty, and trust, knowing that He is not asking you to follow Him alone. The cross may not be easy to carry. But Lord Jesus is still worth following.

God bless you, God keep you. God loves you and I love you too!