When Faith Blocks the View

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24

There are moments when something meant to help us see God more clearly actually makes it harder to see Him at all. Jesus talked about this long before crosses were worn around necks or placed on church buildings. When He said, “If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me,” He was not offering a slogan. He was describing a way of life.

The cross Jesus spoke of was not decorative or comfortable. It was a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. To take it up meant choosing love over ease, compassion over self-protection, and obedience over convenience. It meant identifying with people who were hurting rather than distancing yourself from them.

Over time, the cross became something else. It became familiar. Polished. Safe. And in some cases, it stopped challenging us altogether. When that happens, faith can unintentionally block the view of Jesus instead of pointing toward Him.

This shows up in everyday life when our faith becomes more about defending ourselves than loving others. When we are quick to quote Scripture but slow to show mercy. When comfort matters more than calling. Jesus never promised that following Him would make life easier. He promised it would make life meaningful.

Today is a good day to pause and ask a simple question. Is my faith helping people see Jesus more clearly, or is it getting in the way? The cross Jesus invites us to carry still leads to life, but only when we are willing to carry it the way He intended.