Hope in Hardship

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:18

Isn’t it odd that we wear crosses around our necks? A cross is a symbol of torture. Like wearing a little guillotine, or an electric chair around your neck. So, why is the cross different? Well, many amazing things happened on the cross, but one is that Jesus exchanged its meaning. Christ’s resurrection turned the cross from a symbol of torture into a symbol of life.

And Jesus exchanges the meaning of our suffering in the same way. Like, my wheelchair is no longer a symbol of pain and confinement; it’s a symbol of freedom and life because every day my chair keeps me leaning very hard on God. And that’s a life-giving thing. Today, view your pain and problems through the lens of the cross and ask Jesus to exchange their meaning. The good news?… you will find hope in your hardship.