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When our Savior, Jesus Christ, was being led through the streets of Jerusalem to be crucified, he eventually fell under the weight of the cross that he was bearing. The Pharisees and Roman soldiers would not wait for the exhausted Jesus to gather his strength so they summoned Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross the remainder of the way.  Simon was a man just passing by. The gospel writers agree that he was compelled to bear the cross. Simon did not know why he was chosen to bear the cross. It was a heavy load up a steep hill. Simon did not deserve to bear this cross. He was simply compelled to bear an Unexpected Cross.

Simon is typical of all people. He is only one of many who have been compelled to bear a heavy Unexpected Cross. Life is full of Unexpected Crosses. There are also many who are compelled to carry their crosses, and like Simon don't understand why. All of us sooner or later find that we must bear our own Unexpected Crosses. We would shun the burden if we could, but there is no way to escape.  When we question why we are given a certain cross to bear, that is not the important question. The important questions are: How shall we bear these Unexpected Crosses of life?; What difference will they make in our life?;  Shall we find victory in them, or shall we be defeated?

The tests in life do not come when our plans are running smoothly. They come when we are compelled to bear one of life's Unexpected Crosses.  When cross bearing comes we have three choices. The first is to try to escape. Many try to escape every day, and many of those find escape in suicide. Others try to escape by the use of alcohol and drugs only to slowly destroy their life. Trying to escape is simply running from an enemy that must sooner or later be faced.

The second choice is the way of defeat. Thousands of people give up in despair when some handicap comes into their lives. When they give up they become bitter and spend many years pitying themselves and telling others what they would do if they had better health, or if they had an eduction, or if they had money. Anyone who pities themselves and explains why they cannot succeed is one who has been defeated by his Unexpected Cross.

The third choice is to accept life's Unexpected Crosses as a challenge, as an opportunity, or as a blessing. Scripture tells us that the Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh. Paul did not try to escape. He did not sit around pitying himself and telling others what he would do if he did not have it. He did not become bitter because God did not remove it. He overcame and conquered it finding victory. The victory was that it became a source of power and grace in his life.  John Bunyan wanted to preach, then came his Unexpected Cross. He was put into prison.  Did John wonder what he should do? Did he pity himself or forsake God?  John asked himself how can I use this Unexpected Cross and find victory? While in prison, John Bunyan wrote 'Pilgrim's Progress' and accomplished more while bearing his cross than all the rest of his life.

We all face great opportunities. We are working out some plan that is very important to us. We have a dream that is about to come true. Then a day comes just when we are about to enter the door of opportunity that an Unexpected Cross is thrust upon us. When trouble comes into our lives, it does one of two things to us. It leaves us narrow and bitter, with less faith in ourselves, others, and God. It leaves us with less sympathy and understanding, with little resource with which to meet other problems of life;  or it leaves us bigger with a more kind spirit, with a stronger faith, and with sympathetic feelings toward others who are bearing crosses.  The difference is not in the cross but in us.  The same trouble that defeats another may be a source of strength for you.

Life's true meaning lies close to the Unexpected Cross. It is this true meaning that gives life it's true value. It was Jesus who said that those who would be his disciples must take up their cross and follow him. If Simon of Cyrene had never picked up the cross he was compelled to carry, we would have never heard of him. Surely Simon had to look back to carrying that Unexpected Cross as the greatest event in his life. The Apostle Paul prayed that the thorn in his flesh might be removed, but who knows but that the courage, the patience, the fortitude, and the grace which Paul had in prison and bearing persecution did not come from bearing this Unexpected Cross. No doubt John Bunyan prayed, 'deliver me from this prison', but now we see that his Unexpected Cross was his greatest blessing. Jesus prayed, 'Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me'. But it did not pass and he was compelled to bear his cross. That cross Jesus has transformed from a mark of shame to a sign of victory. Jesus is now our Savior not in spite of the cross, but because of the cross.

We may never know or understand why we are compelled to bear these heavy Unexpected Crosses that are thrust upon us until we cross the narrow sea. We know that our crosses come. We know that there is a plan and a purpose behind them. We know that He who holds the earth in the hollow of his hand has a heart of love toward us. We know that it is in the bearing of these Unexpected Crosses that life's true meaning is revealed. By looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith we can say with the Apostle Paul, 'In all these things I am more than conqueror through Him that loved us'.

About the Author:

Stephen Stillman owner of www.amazingchristianproducts.com a website that offers great christian articles and a variety of christian products.