The Cross: Beauty in Breaking

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” -1 Peter 4:12-13I put on my cross necklace daily, sometimes pairing it with earrings—but what does the cross truly represent? The dainty charm wasn’t celebrated over 2000 years ago as it is today. Jesus, in Mark 8:34, invites us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him; what does that mean?Could a loving God call us to hug our moments or lifelong plights of suffering?In today’s episode, I share a powerful devotional from Oswald Chambers which challenges the present culture's comfort-driven mindset to shift our hearts toward the truth which is that following Christ means embracing His suffering. Unfortunately, our dreams of a perfect marriage to our wonderful best friend aren’t exempt from Jesus’s invitation. Nor is our cherished role as mothers, which we often place at the center of our lives, going to be an addendum to the call to follow Jesus while dragging our cross. When we understand the gospel of suffering, the trials we face as wives and moms have a deeper meaning. My hope is for this episode to normalize the difficulty. I pray that 1 Peter 4 can be applied daily to encourage your trust in the LORD, who sees you in all troubles. Cheering for you!-Brittany This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit courageousradiance.substack.com