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?

—Hudson Taylor (21 May 1832 – 3 June 1905, British  Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM, now OMF International).