Our Cross

One of my favorite quotes is from Oswald Chambers in "My Utmost for His Highest". He said, "God does not ask us to do the things that are easy to us. He only asks us to do those things that we are perfectly fit to do through His grace, and that is where the cross we must bear will always come."

That came into my head today as I was talking with kids. I'm listening to them talk about their lives. Some of them have seen more in their fifteen years than anyone should see in three lifetimes. They come from homes with abuse, drugs, alcohol, and gangs. I found myself thinking- "What am I doing here? Why have I chosen to subject myself daily to these things that break my heart?" Trust me, this part of the job is not easy to me. Helping students pick classes, giving them tips for improving grades, scheduling, and organizing testing- that I can do! But it is a struggle for me to keep dry eyes as I listen to these kids talk. That's where the quote came into my head. God asks us to carry our cross, and with His grace we can follow our calling. This is my cross. This is my calling. God didn't ask me to do it because it would be easy for me, God asked me to do it because He knew it would make me see that I can't do it and I have to rely on Him and His sweet grace.

I'm not going to pretend like I don't hope for drama-free days at work, because I do. But I know that when the days come in which I am challenged, that I am perfectly fit to do this job through His grace. And I'm so thankful for that grace!

God just laid that on my heart today and I wanted to share. God's grace will help you carry that cross, so pick it up!

God bless,
Manesseh