There was one simple sentence in a WhatsApp message that undid Pastor Boucet.
A sister from church had shared part of a blog post based on last week’s sermon, and tucked into that message was this quiet prayer:
“Lord, help me carry my cross again tomorrow.”
When he read it, he couldn’t stop crying. Not because it was long or poetic, but because it captured something most of us forget:
following Jesus is not a one-time ‘yes’—it’s a daily cross.
This message is about that cross… and the danger of settling for something far less: comfortable Christianity.
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We Live in an Age of Comfort
We’re surrounded by shortcuts:
• Microwaves instead of slow cooking
• Fast food instead of taking time to prepare a meal
• Instant downloads instead of waiting
• Machines that mow the yard for us so we don’t have to push
Convenience isn’t evil—but it trains us to always look for the easiest way.
The problem is when that mindset sneaks into our walk with God.
We start to want a faith that is:
• Fast, but not deep
• Convenient, but not costly
• Inspiring, but not transforming
And slowly, without noticing, we begin to build what Pastor Hector called “comfortable Christianity.”
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What Is Comfortable Christianity?
He described it like this:
Comfortable Christianity is:
• Blessings without being confronted
• Salvation without surrender
• Faith that feels good but doesn’t require change
It says things like:
• “I’ll follow Jesus… as long as it fits into my schedule.”
• “I’ll serve… as long as it doesn’t cost me my comfort.”
• “Jesus is part of my life” — instead of “Jesus is my life.”
But that’s not the Christianity Jesus preached.
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.’”
— Luke 9:23–24
Jesus never promised comfort. He promised a cross.
He didn’t die to make us comfortable.
He died to make us committed.
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Denying Ourselves Daily
Paul said:
“I die every day.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:31
That’s not dramatic language—that’s discipleship.
Denying ourselves is not about:
• Giving up one bad habit for a week
• Saying no to dessert once in a while
• Doing a quick religious duty and moving on
Denying ourselves means surrendering our will to God’s will, again and again.
“Not my will, but yours be done.”
— Luke 22:42
When we don’t surrender, Pastor Hector said, we often create our own storms.
Sometimes the storm in our life isn’t from the devil, or from other people—it’s from our refusal to let go of what God keeps asking us to place in His hands. We cling to control. We clutch that “one thing” we don’t want to surrender “just in case.” And then we wonder why everything feels like a hurricane.
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Resetting Our Priorities
Another danger sign of comfortable Christianity is how we treat our schedule.
We say:
• “I’ll fit Jesus in if I have time.”
• “I’ll read the Bible if my day isn’t too busy.”
• “I’ll pray if I’m not too tired.”
But if Jesus only fits where there’s leftover space,
He is not first on our list.
That’s a red flag.
God is the One who gives us time, breath, days, and life.
So instead of saying, “Here’s my schedule, Lord, I’ll squeeze You in,” we need to say:
“Lord, here is my schedule—
I want it to be Your schedule.”
When you wake up in the morning, before you rush into the “I have to do this, and this, and this,” pause and invite Him:
• “Jesus, be first in my day.”
• “Holy Spirit, help me carry my cross again today.”
• “Show me Your agenda in the middle of mine.”
Because if we take care of His business,
He is faithful to take care of ours.
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What Are You Willing to Leave Behind?
Every disciple in the Bible left something:
• Peter left his nets—his trade, his comfort, what he knew
• Matthew left his tax booth—his income, his position, his security
To follow Jesus always costs something.
So the question becomes:
What is God asking you to lay down so you can truly follow Him?
Is it:
• A relationship that’s pulling you away from Him?
• A habit that keeps your heart dull?
• Pride that keeps you from obeying?
• Your need to control every outcome?
If we cling to these things, we don’t just “have a struggle”—we block the relationship He’s longing to have with us.
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The Reward Beyond the Cost
Yes, there is a cost. But there is also a reward:
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
— Philippians 1:21
Following Jesus might cost:
• Relationships
• Opportunities
• Comfort
But in Christ you gain:
• Eternal life
• Real purpose
• Deep joy that circumstances can’t steal
Have you ever walked through a really hard season and thought,
“I should feel crushed right now… but somehow I still have joy”?
That’s not denial. That’s not pretending.
That’s what happens when you are connected to God.
The storm is real, but so is His peace.
He’s the One who “splits the sea” so you can walk right through, holding His hand, not waiting on the shore wondering if it’s safe.
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Practical Ways to “Carry Your Cross Again Tomorrow”
Pastor Boucet encouraged us to find practical reminders to keep us from drifting back into comfort:
• Put a small cross by your bed or on your wall so it’s the first thing you see when you wake up.
• Let it preach to you:
“Today, deny yourself.
Today, take up your cross.
Today, follow Jesus.”
And then build simple daily habits like:
• Opening your Bible every day, even if it’s one chapter
• Pausing before you rush out the door to surrender your day
• Asking the Holy Spirit: “Who do You want to put in my path today? Give me Your words for them.”
• Checking your heart regularly:
• Am I choosing comfort over obedience?
• Am I leaving my cross at home and picking it up only for church?
Remember: a fish cannot survive outside water.
In the same way, a believer cannot thrive away from God’s Word and presence.
If you’re “out of the tank,” it’s only a matter of time before you feel it.
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Questions to Take to Prayer
Let these questions sit with you this week:
• Have I settled for comfort over commitment?
• Is Jesus just part of my life—or is He my life?
• Am I carrying my cross daily, or leaving it at home and picking it up only on Sundays?
If any of those sting a little—that’s not condemnation.
That’s invitation.
Jesus isn’t calling us to a popular church, but to a powerful one.
Not to be comfortable, but to be courageous.
Imagine a church that:
• Loves deeply
• Serves sacrificially
• Follows Jesus fully, not part-time
That kind of church can turn the world upside down…
just like the early church did.
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A Simple Prayer
You might want to start here:
“Lord, help me carry my cross again tomorrow.
Help me deny myself, surrender my will,
and follow You with all my heart.
Reset my priorities, wake me from comfort,
and make my life completely Yours.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”