You Weren’t Called to Be Comfortable — You Were Called to Take Up Your Cross
Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24 remain just as radical today as they were over two thousand years ago: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
In a culture that values convenience, comfort, and control, this command stands in direct opposition to everything the world celebrates. To follow Jesus is to choose surrender over self-interest. It’s to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done,” even when obedience leads us into uncomfortable or costly places.
What Does Taking Up Your Cross Look Like in 2025?
John 3:16 reminds us that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.”
Love gives. Love sacrifices. Love lays itself down.
For most of us, following Jesus won’t mean facing physical persecution or death, but it does mean living a life of daily surrender. Taking up your cross might look like choosing humility when you want recognition, forgiveness when you’ve been wronged, or obedience when you’d rather stay where it’s safe.
The framework for surrender is found in Jesus’ call to “deny yourself.” This denial isn’t about self-hatred; it’s about trusting that God’s ways are higher than our own and that true life is found when we lay ours down.
The Cost of the Cross
Taking up your cross always costs something.
For Jesus, it cost His life. For us, it may cost our approval, our comfort, or our personal ambitions. But Scripture assures us that the cost is never greater than the reward. Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
Every act of obedience, every sacrifice made for the sake of Christ, is not wasted—it’s sown into eternity.
Guarding Against Distraction
It’s easy to fall in love with God’s gifts and forget the Giver. Even ministry goals or good dreams can become idols when they occupy the space that belongs to God alone.
James 1:17 reminds us that “every good and perfect gift is from above,” but Matthew 6:19-21 cautions us not to store up treasures on earth. The call to follow Jesus is a call to live with eternity in view—to treasure what cannot be taken away.
In a culture driven by success, comfort, and the “American dream,” believers must be careful not to trade holiness for happiness or surrender for security. This world is not our home.
Living with an Eternal Perspective
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
Jesus’ words remind us that comfort is fleeting, but calling is eternal. When we fix our eyes on Him, even the most difficult sacrifices become acts of worship.
He might call you somewhere uncomfortable, but He’ll never leave you to go it alone. Every step of faith is accompanied by His presence and sustained by His grace.
Meet the Author
Lauren Carter
Lauren is a lifelong lover and follower of Jesus with a passion to point people to Him in all she does. Lauren lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, their two boys, and new baby girl.
As a church women’s ministry leader turned stay-at-home-mom with a biblical studies degree, Lauren loves to encourage women to walk closely with the Lord and boldly in the ministries He’s given them - inside their own homes and beyond!
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