God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
Bearing a cross is an elaboration of Christ’s demand for self-denial. Bearing a cross is every Christian’s daily, conscious selection of those options which will please Christ, pain self, and aim at putting self to death.
He will know neither rest nor joy – until he shall have heaven for his home, and sit forever beneath the smiles of that gracious God, who is at once the author of his existence, and the source of his felicity.