The Cross

I have had blessings come my way that I’m truly grateful for. God has fulfilled His promise to see through after being in a dark endless tunnel for so long. But now that I beckon at the light at the end of the tunnel, I realize that more trouble waits for me on the other side. In a way I feel some disappointment because I truly thought I was now being led to the land of milk and honey.

But thew Holy Spirit has then reminded me that I’m in a journey in which trials and tribulations are forever present , but I must hold on to my faith and seek the Lord for strength to endure and overcome. We as men want to struggle for a short while and quickly overcome and be victorious and continue through the rest of our life's journey with no burden and no cross the carry.

But the Lord says that to truly overcome is not to quickly be done with the battle, but to carry the cross and slowly but patiently endure the long tiresome journey right until the end.

I then saw myself as if treading slowly in a vast dry hot desert, sweating hot tired weary but holding fast to my cross and getting closer and closer to the end of my journey. I felt as if my Lord was seeing me from a distance, His love- and joy- filled eyes upon me as I steadily got closer to gates of the Holy City. In this vision, I was filled with a conviction to patiently endure to the end of my journey and to finish strong.

As this vision flashed through my mind, I felt the thoughts that I seemed to carry at that time expound even more;

“I want to endure with the cross on my back to the very end of my journey. I want to endure patiently, humbly, without grumbling and complaining. I don’t wish to give up when the tribulations of my life rage; and the storms rage and the fires blaze, but I want to patiently endure. If it gets harder for me each day may I but endure. If I have to walk with blisters under my feet and on my hands and my shoulders have ugly sores as I hold on to the cross, let me but endure.

My cross has been chosen for me I accept all that it will entail.  And I ask you Lord for strength of will to endure to the end. Let me not seek for daily victories, blessings, and overcoming.

If I see no progress, I see no great achievement, I get no pat on the back, I get no hand clap and I hear no laud and no one acknowledges me, may I remain unfazed, remain resolute and endure to the end, treading on towards in golden city. Even if my eyes are so dull and weary and the dust of the desert of life rises up so high to blur the marvelous glimmer and glorious light coming from that beautiful city of Jerusalem that I’m treading towards, may my heart but burn with great desire and filled with the sure hope of meeting my Lord and falling at His feet with eternal joy on that blessed day.”

Glory to God in the Highest who gives strength to His children to endure patiently to the end so they may overcome,

That we may gain entry into that glorious City,

That we may share in the glorious riches of heaven

Grant us by your grace O Lord that privilege

For alone we are not able

Blessed be God forever. Amen.