Carrying the cross does mean following in Jesus' footsteps. And in His footsteps are rejection, brokenheartedness, persecution and death. There are not two Christs - an easy going one for easy going Christians, and a suffering one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are we willing to follow His lead?

We have heard of many people who trusted God too little, but have you ever heard of anyone who trusted Him too much?

I have seen many men work without praying, though I have never seen any good come out of it; but I have never seen a man pray without working.

I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him to do His work through me.

Let but faithful labourers be found, who will prove faithful to God, and there is no reason to fear that God will not prove faithful to them.

Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.

Depend on it. God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purposes for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterwards, and He much prefers doing so.