Life is often painted as a journey of choice — of ambition, of planning, of deciding who we want to be and chasing after it. But what if some of the most pivotal, powerful, and defining moments of our lives come not from what we chose, but from what chose us?

In Matthew 27, we meet a man named Simon of Cyrene. Just passing through Jerusalem, likely for the Passover, he was unexpectedly pulled into the greatest story ever told. Roman soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. He didn’t volunteer. He didn’t ask. He simply got caught in the path of destiny — and what a picture that paints.

Sometimes, You Don’t Choose the Cross — It Chooses You

Simon didn’t wake up that morning expecting to be part of history. Yet his name is forever etched into Scripture. And isn’t that how many of us experience the weight in our lives? We didn’t choose the illness, the divorce, the miscarriage, the loss, the addiction in the bloodline, or the betrayal. We didn’t ask for the weight — but there it is. And yet, that same weight may carry with it the power to change us more than anything we could have planned.

The Cross That Hurts the Most, Heals the Deepest

We often equate calling with dreams. We imagine God handing us goals — clear, inspiring, beautiful visions of what could be. But calling is heavier. It’s a burden. It’s a weight. And it’s often wrapped in mystery, pain, and surrender. God isn’t just handing you something to pursue. He’s asking if you’re willing to carry something that might hurt.

The real walk of faith isn’t control. It’s surrender. The deeper we go with Jesus, the less it’s about strength and more about submission.

Pain Has a Purpose

When Simon was pulled from the crowd, he was likely confused and frustrated. His plans interrupted. His tradition upended. And yet, what he thought was a burden became the most sacred assignment of his life. That’s how God works. What feels like a disruption is often divine.

Some of the greatest assignments in life will come from things never asked for. We may not choose the situation — but God can still use it for transformation.

The Weight Grows as You Grow

As life goes on, so does the weight. Parenting, leadership, influence — none are light. We pray for opportunity, not realizing it comes with responsibility. But maturity is learning how to carry it. And the key is knowing that while we must carry something, we’re never carrying everything.

Even Jesus needed help carrying His cross.

If Jesus Needed Help, So Do You

When Jesus fell under the weight of the cross, it wasn’t just a physical collapse — it was a statement: “Even the Savior needed support.” If Jesus allowed someone to help, why do we think we can do life alone?

The cross isn’t a solo journey. It’s meant to be carried with community, grace, and God’s strength.

God Shapes Us Through What We Endure, Not What We Prefer

We live in a culture of preference — personalized playlists, coffee orders, curated social feeds. But God doesn’t work according to our preferences. He works through what we endure — through pain, delay, surrender, and discomfort.

And transformation doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from carrying.

The Cross That Marks You

Simon didn’t just carry the cross — the cross marked him. Literally. Blood from Jesus’ broken body stained the wood, and when Simon picked it up, the blood stained him too.

That’s what happens when you carry what you didn’t choose — it leaves a mark. But not to shame you. To shape you. To cover you in grace.

Your Children Are Watching

Mark’s Gospel tells us Simon was the father of Rufus and Alexander. Later in Romans 16, Paul greets Rufus — “chosen in the Lord” — and his mother. Scholars believe it’s the same family. Which means the sons of the man who carried Jesus’ cross became known in the early church.

Why? Because children watch how we carry our suffering. They may hear your sermons, but they will remember your perseverance.

There Is Power in Carrying, Not Just Wearing

We wear crosses on necklaces, tattoos, and artwork. And that’s fine. But the real power of the cross is not in wearing it — it’s in carrying it.

Carrying the cross means laying down ego, pride, expectations. It means embracing the pain you didn’t plan for — trusting that God will turn it into purpose.

Final Word: The Cross Will Change You — If You Let It

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after Me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Me.” The cross isn’t a one-time burden. It’s a daily surrender. And every day, it calls you to let go of self and cling to God.

You may not have chosen your cross. But your cross may be choosing to change you.

It’s often the cross you didn’t choose that ends up changing you the most.