Comfort Or The Cross – Chapter Two

The Price of Comfort

Welcome to Part Four of Chapter Two in the Comfort or The Cross series.

We have just journeyed through Lent, walked the solemn path of Good Friday, and now we arrive at Easter Sunday. But this day is not about chocolate or bunnies. It is about Jesus. It is about the Resurrection. It is about the Cross, the same Cross we have been reflecting on, the Cross that many lay down for the fleeting comforts of this world instead of embracing what it truly means to follow Jesus Christ. Today reminds us that following Him calls for courage, surrender, and a heart fixed on eternal truth.

Chapter One, Part Two of the series, and Chapter Four of the book Comfort or the Cross….

To all of you, I pray you have a glorious day. May you enjoy this series, share it with others, and be truly blessed by it. If this is your first time reading the series, you might want to start at the beginning and find the first three chapters of this series …

YOU ARE LOVED

I won’t be creating images for this series because my hope is that the message speaks louder than the visuals.

Comfort or the Cross? Let that question sink in as you read these next chapters. Pain does more than test us. It exposes who we really are. Sorrow, anxiety, worry. These are heavy burdens. Some of us carry more than we can bear.

If someone offered to take away your pain, erase your suffering, and give you peace, would you deny Christ? Say it out loud. Would you choose comfort over the Cross? Or have you already let go of your own cross without even realizing it?

Part 4

After asking the question, Comfort or the Cross, I began to see how pain does not just test us, it reveals us.

Pain, sorrow, anxiety, worry. These are just a few things that conquer the human spirit. Some of us carry burdens so heavy that we feel we cannot bear them. I know this personally, because there are times when I must rely on medication just to get through the day. And I know that no matter how much pain I carry, there are people out there who are enduring even more.

I think of my wife, who cries four to five times a day because of the pain she lives with. I think of my cousin who battles cancer alone, struggling just to get around. I think of my dear friends who also fight cancer every day. I think of those who live with constant anxiety and fear, my wife, my son, and so many others.

I think of my mother, who endures pain that no doctor seems able to relieve. No matter how many hospitals she visits or medications she tries, the peace she needs never comes. How do we handle it all? How do we find comfort?

The answer, of course, is surrender.

We are taught to surrender everything to God, trusting that He will bring it all to completion. That He knows the plan. That our suffering will one day become a testimony of His goodness.

But what about those who do not know God?

What about those who have never built a relationship with Him, never learned to trust, never learned to pray?

How do they find comfort?

In Romans 8:26, it says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness, even when we do not know what to pray for.”
But that is for the believer.

What about those who do not know the Word? What will they give up to find peace?

Will they wait for God’s timing and trust His plan? Or will they seek immediate relief, even if it comes from the wrong place?

Seeking comfort outside the Cross does not end well.

Look at the story of Judas. He walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, and heard the Word. Yet when he faced the cost of the Cross, he chose comfort over Christ. He chose money over mercy. He chose betrayal over redemption.

In Chapter One, we asked the question.

If someone offered you a life of comfort, if they promised to remove your suffering, would you deny Christ?

Here we ask again.

If someone offered to take away your pain, remove your suffering, erase your illness, and bring you peace, would you deny Christ?

All you have to do is say it out loud.

“I no longer believe. I am not a follower of Jesus Christ.” Will you do it?

To Be Continued…..

I’ll leave you with this for now. I’ll be back soon with the last part of this series, going deeper and speaking more clearly and boldly into what Comfort of the Cross truly means.

Stay tuned for the next Chapter of: The Price Of Comfort – From the Comfort or The Cross Series….

Willie Torres Jr.

04/05/2026

Happy and Blessed Easter

@BeingCrazyForChrist.com

47 responses to “Comfort Or The Cross – Chapter Two”

  1. KikiFikar Avatar

    All I can say is thank you. Deeply moving.

    I attended my first ever live stations of the cross on Friday evening. I walked directly next to Jesus for 2.25 miles until we reached the crucifixion site. I was so physically moved and wept openly. Even though I knew what as coming I was not prepared for my reaction. I drove home sobbing.

    Here’s wishing you a beautiful Easter with your family and loved ones.

    Thank you for writing this piece for us. I for one need to hear it.

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Thank you so much Kiki and Thank you for Reading and Commenting with an open heart…

      What you experienced sounds incredibly powerful. I can only imagine how moving that must have been walking through that moment. I haven’t been to a live stations of the Cross like that, and honestly, I don’t know how I would handle it. Even watching The Passion of the Christ broke me down. I don’t think I could bear to see it in person, even knowing it’s a reenactment.

      Moments like that remind us of what He endured for us. All I can say is Thank You, Lord.

      Wishing you and your family a Blessed and Wonderful Easter as well.

      All Glory and Praise to God. 🙏

      Liked by 3 people

      1. KikiFikar Avatar

        If you have a chance to participate – it is highly recommended. It really put things in perspective. I turned that movie off when I watched because it was that upsetting. I think the movie has more gore than this live show because it’s Hollywood you know!

        Anyway – hope you had the best day!

        Liked by 2 people

  2. Eric Dunbar Avatar

    Amen, brother. I agree that pain has a way of revealing us, not just to others, but to ourselves as well.

    I also know from experience that the cross can also be our comfort, that is, those of us who trust the Lord with our lives.

    As for those who do not know of the Lord’s enduring love, I pray that pain will bring them one step closer to understanding the cross, and perhaps one day they too, will choose the cross over comfort, having found comfort in the cross.

    Thank you, Willie, for sharing this powerful word. I pray that God will continue to bless you, so that you may continue to bless me.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Thank you, my Brother. And Thank you for Reading and Commenting…

      You said something powerful there… that the Cross can also be our comfort. That’s so true for those of us who trust in Him. What once seemed heavy becomes the very place we find Peace.

      I’m grateful for your heart for others as well, that through pain they may come to know His love and choose Him.

      Thank you again for your Prayers and Encouragement.

      To God be the Glory and Praise 🙏

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Michael Williams Avatar
    Michael Williams

    Happy Easter to you and the family Willie! Mike

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Happy and Blessed Easter to you and yours as well Michael….

      Liked by 3 people

  4. LoveLifeHappiness&More💙💙 Avatar

    Happy Blessed Easter to you and your family my friend. Blessing & Peace! 🙏

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Happy and Blessed Easter to you and yours as well….
      He Is Risen 🙏🤗🫶

      Liked by 2 people

      1. LoveLifeHappiness&More💙💙 Avatar

        Thank you. Yes, he is RISEN! 🙏

        Liked by 2 people

  5. The Mindful Migraine Blog Avatar

    Have a blessed Easter my friend. Linda x

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Chris Avatar

    Thank you for sharing, Willie. Believers don’t have it any easier than unbelievers when it comes to pain. There are so many saints of old who went through very painful times. Their words can be helpful in times of pain. My mom was on heavy medications years before she went to be with the Lord. She was a faithful Christian who had a wonderful singing voice. She was a church choir director for years and she sang at many weddings and funerals. As she got older and before her dementia/Alzheimer’s set in, her back caused her a great deal of grief.
    I’ve been through long periods of pain myself and somehow managed to make it to 50 before giving up and taking medications. That was a time I had to surrender. Prayer has always been important to me and I’m thankful that we have medications that people in the past never had. My daughter is 35 and would have been long gone if she had lived 100 years ago. Modern medications can be very helpful.
    I really appreciate the verse that you’ve shared: ““The Spirit helps us in our weakness, even when we do not know what to pray for.” Through my years of pain I found the power in the scriptures very helpful.
    Thank you again for this post, Willie, and may God bless your day. Happy Easter.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Mags Win Avatar

    Another great chapter dearest Willie. There are always others with more pain than ourselves. I find praying for others with pain helps keep my mind off any pain I have. With all the pain anyone goes through it is nothing like the pain Jesus suffered when He died for all the people of the world. I think of that a lot. I know that your writings will help others to find the meaning of the cross and trust and believe. Keep writing as the spirit leads, the Lord will do the rest. One day there will be no more pain.

    A book was sent to me in 1972. I did not know who sent it. I read the whole book without moving from the front steps. I cried through most of it and ended up believing and turned my life over to the Lord. I have been serving Him ever since. That is one reason I have faith that your writings and books are helping to bring people to know Jesus. Thank you my dear brother in Christ and friend. Love, hugs and blessings always to you and your family.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Becoming His Tapestry Avatar

    These are very good questions, my friend. I do find that it’s easy to say, I will never deny Christ, even offered the promise of comfort. But then I’ve never been placed in an actual position of having to make that choice. Prayfully I will always make the choice to choose the cross.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. candidcasually658991e4e2 Avatar
    candidcasually658991e4e2

    I just read this email you sent meIt’s so well written and the message is so deep. I got to read the others you sent me. Jenny wants to read your books but can’t see.  Now I walk with a limp. My left side, hip and knee is killing me. I walk it out cuz if I sit it makes it worst. I started going to the water park and walking the lazy river. Get water massage at the gym, it’s feel better, but dammm it hurts

    Liked by 2 people

  10. wendaswindowcom Avatar

    You are one who brings the questions that touch the soul deeply. I see many who may not deny Jesus with their lips, but they do with their actions. They profess Him with their mouth, but their heart is far away. 2 Peter 2:24 says “By His wounds you have been healed.” That is past tense. Then if this is true why do so many go to the doctors for help? It is because they are more in agreement with the devil than they are with the Lord. My friend was diagnosed with cancer, and I told her that was a lie and not to own it. So many say I have cancer and so they do. She went on believing and did not go back to the doctor. She eventually got a test and there was no cancer. She had no operation or chemo. She is still with me and knows the Lord healed her and always will.

    Where do you go for help? If you go to man, then the Lord is offended because He said you are already healed. Many do not like what I say, but that is why many are in pain and on medication. They are depending on man and medication instead of the Lord. I have not been to the doctor in over 30 years, and the Lord takes care of all my physical and spiritual needs. He promised and He cannot lie. That is Truth!

    Faith is the substance of things not seen. Yet many go to the doctor and expect them to put their light inside of them and tell them what is wrong with them. That is the substance of things seen. If the Lord says we are healed, then He expects us to leave it in His very capable hands and go on serving Him. If we do our part, He will do His part. I know because He does it for me every day of my life and I am 75 years old and feel about 50. He is so very good and worthy to be praised!

    Thank you, Willie for giving me the opportunity to share my story! ❤️🎶🌹

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Johnbritto Kurusumuthu Avatar

    This chapter cuts deeper than the first—it moves the Cross from theory into the reality of daily choices. It confronts the quiet compromises we justify when obedience becomes costly. What struck me most is the reminder that faithfulness is not proven in big moments alone, but in the unseen decisions where we choose Christ over comfort again and again.

    This is not easy Christianity—it is real Christianity. And it leaves us with a question we cannot ignore: when the pressure comes, will we still stand?

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Manu Avatar

    Pain indeed has a way of revealing us. I remember being challenged to sing the worship song Christ is my firm foundation with the same gusto as I did before a challenging time. There was a vivid moment for me in church when this song was being sung and I thought if I claim this is true then why do I feel so shaken in this valley. Truly made me reflect. Thank you Willie. Have a blessed Easter.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Expansão e Percepção Avatar

    Thank you, my friend Willie, for sharing such a true and courageous message. Your words resonate like a gentle and profound call, reminding us that it is often in the silence of pain that the soul reveals itself and draws closer to the Eternal. Between fleeting comfort and the truth of the cross, we are invited to a path of surrender, not as loss, but as a reunion with that which truly sustains life.
    May this reflection continue to flourish in the hearts of all who read it, bringing light even on the darkest days, and hope where there are still unanswered questions.
    Have a blessed week, full of peace, presence, and meaning. 🙂🙏🏻✨📚✍🏻🌌🦁🦊

    Liked by 1 person

  14. isabellawolgoth Avatar

    American culture, the glass beaker I grew up in, is polluted by physical materialism. It’s in the fluid of the beaker. It quietly teaches you that your value is in the things you own. You learn to buy clothing that hopefully gives you identity (since it seems there is a poverty of self in the materialist) or rank in the world. I swam in these waters until I began reading nonfiction. Suddenly, it was clear. Love reigns down upon you daily. The problem is the limitation of physical materialism. I think of it now like a software app, and with that particular app, you live a life of desperate struggle. However, as you show in your projects, there is a light that shined eternally even in darkness. Thank you, again, for your light.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. worldphoto12 Avatar

    BUONA PASQUA A TE CARO AMICO. E ALLA TUA FAMIGLIA.

    CHE DIO VI PROTEGGA SEMPRE.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Thank you so much and Thank you for Visiting and Commenting…

      Happy and Blessed Easter to you and yours as well…

      He Is Risen ….

      Liked by 1 person

      1. worldphoto12 Avatar

        GRAZIE WILLIE.

        SEMPRE SIA LODATO.

        THANK YOU WILLIE.

        ALWAYS BE PRAISED.

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      God Bless You, today and always…

      Liked by 1 person

  16. papadosshortstories Avatar

    Matthew 5:45: that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
    We can interpret it as meaning that God helps everyone, including sinners, even those who don’t believe in Him and see Him as an enemy.
    Happy Easter, Willie. 😊🐣🧡

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar

    No I would not brother, the comfort I seek and find is from his loving grace only. Great series Willie.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. valenciartist Avatar

    Beautiful Willie my Brother.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Thank you so much and Thank you for Reading and Commenting. Of course All the Glory and Praise belong to God…

      Be Blessed and Continue to be a Blessing…

      Liked by 3 people

      1. valenciartist Avatar

        Amen Brother and it is always a blessing and a pleasure. All the best!

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Thank you 🤗

      Liked by 2 people

      1. valenciartist Avatar

        Always a pleasure my Brother!

        Liked by 2 people

  19. Anna Waldherr Avatar

    These are hard questions. But the Bible offers the only real answers in this broken world. Suffering would not exist, if sin did not. Which is not to say that those who suffer are being “punished” for their sins. Rather, it to acknowledge that we all suffer. We can trust that God will use our suffering somehow for good, or we can grow angry and bitter. Some characters are softened and transformed by suffering. Others shrivel and are hardened by it. The choice is ours.

    Liked by 2 people

  20. WanderingCanadians Avatar

    I hope you and your family had a happy Easter. We’re all dealing with pain in some shape or form, whether from illness, sadness, grief or fear. Looking forward to the last part in your series. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Thank you so much for Reading and Commenting and Thank you for your Support… I hope you and your loved ones also had a truly Blessed Easter.

      You’re right, pain shows up in so many ways for all of us, yet God’s presence never leaves us, even in the middle of it. I’m grateful to share this journey with you and can’t wait to share the next part of this series.

      All Glory and Praise to God for His Faithfulness and Love. 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  21. LaDonna Remy Avatar

    Thank you for this deeply honest post, Willie. It resonates. There is a genuine tension between pain and the search for comfort that can lead us in many directions.

    I appreciate your writing and journey.

    Liked by 2 people

  22. byngnigel Avatar

    Another lovely post for the series, Willie. I trust that you had a peaceful Easter.
    Suffering does reveal us, and more so, the Christ within us.
    We endure so that we can be a blessing to those who will and are voing through similar situations.
    Our faith strengthens the weaker believers and also glorifies God.
    At least, that’s what I believe.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Cindy Georgakas Avatar

    Happy belated Easter, Willy. I’m just coming up for air, grateful to have shared a beautiful day in love, honor of Spring Renewal and hope. Sorry to hear your wife is in pain. My dad managed 20 steps down to the pool in pain and 3 of us helped him down but he was happy to be there. Blessings, 💗💕💗

    Liked by 1 person

  24. daylerogers Avatar

    I’m sorry for your pain, your wife’s pain, your mother, and all those you know who suffer. I know God is good, and I know He is sovereign; His choices are for our good and growth. But having pain, seeing those we love suffer, knowing there’s nothing we can do to help is a huge challenge. I know God promised suffering in this world, with all the troubles and heartaches they bring. I have to keep reminding myself that this affliction is momentary, that this pain won’t last forever, and some day there won’t be any more pain, suffering, or death. If we cling to Jesus. It’s a daily thing, isn’t it? To choose Jesus over comfort. Thanks for this, Willie.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Hazel Avatar

    I can’t think of a life without pain. That life is uninteresting for sure. Pain is always part of life. Suffering is always part of life. It reminds us that He is our God and that He controls everything. I’m praying to be obedient to Him. Enlightening piece, Willie.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. SiriusSea Avatar

    Some lives preach without words, and your mom (( <3 )) is one of them: a testimony carved not in ease, but in courage, in breath-by-breath faithfulness, in the stubborn hope that refuses to let suffering have the final say.

    She is the kind of woman heaven leans close to … the kind whose prayers rise from places deeper than language, the kind whose strength is shaped in the dark and still shines. And though the world has not given her relief, God has never taken His eyes from her. Her pain is seen. Her tears are counted. Her endurance is not unnoticed in the courts of eternity.

    May she feel, even in the hardest hours, that she is held. May she know that her suffering has never been wasted. And may the Cross she carries become the place where grace meets her gently, again and again, until the day her body knows peace at last.

    A mother like yours does not walk alone – heaven walks with her. Remember this!!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Dawn Pisturino Avatar

    I enjoyed reading your book during Holy Week. I’ll let you know when I’m going to post my review on my blog.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Darryl B Avatar

    Brother, I really enjoy your posts and your outlook on life. So very uplifting and encouraging. 🙏❤️😎 I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Details are in my latest post. https://neptunesky.com/2026/04/09/sunshine-blogger-award/

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Carolina e Catarina Avatar

    Dear Willie, I’m eager to read your conclusion to this reflection! I still believe we should never sacrifice something spiritual for something material. If it’s possible to have help without risking jeopardizing spiritual growth, that would be the best scenario, wouldn’t it? But if it were a comfort that would cause me to lose myself spiritually, I wouldn’t want it. Have a good Easter, I hope you and your family did too! Thank you! Good night.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
      Willie Torres Jr.

      Thank you so much for Reading and Commenting. I truly appreciate your thoughtful words and support.

      You said it beautifully. We should never trade something eternal for something temporary. If help comes without pulling us away from God, that is a Blessing. But anything that costs us our walk with Him… it’s not worth it.

      I’m grateful for your kindness, encouragement and the way you reflected on this.
      I hope you and your family had a Blessed Easter as well.

      All Glory and Praise to God. 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Carolina e Catarina Avatar

        Yes, we had a good Easter, thank you. 💁🏼‍♀️😀

        Like

  30. safia begum Avatar

    A powerful transition from the solemnity of Lent and Good Friday into the hope of what comes next. This series continues to offer deep, thought-provoking reflections on the true cost of faith.

    Like

  31. Mid-Life Mama Avatar

    A post rich in truth, Willie. I hope you and your family had a blessed and joy-filled Easter. God bless you as you continue to share your heart and life experiences through the lens of God’s Word.

    Like

Leave a reply to Hazel Cancel reply

I’m Willie

Hello and Welcome to my Website.
My name is William Torres, but my family and friends call me Willie. It is a pleasure to be here with you today, and I am excited to share my faith journey with you.

My journey has been amazing and fulfilling as a new Christian. I have seen God work in my life in ways I never could have imagined. I have grown closer to my faith and have seen Him work in my life and the lives of those around me. I am truly blessed to call myself a Christian, and I am excited to continue to grow in my faith.

I believe that I have come a long way in life. Over the years, I have worked hard to become a better man, husband to Frances Torres, and father to our children. I have strived to be a good friend and companion to those I have been fortunate to build relationships with. I have learned to appreciate the small moments of joy and fulfillment that come with every human connection.

I began writing stories that I believe were inspired by the Holy Spirit. These stories are my testimonies about the different trials I have gone through, and how the Lord has helped me to overcome them. Through this process, I’ve discovered that I can forgive those I once vowed to never forgive, and in turn, my relationships with them have been restored. They are now a huge blessing and a special part of my life.

I hope that through my writing I can be a source of encouragement to other people in their faith and relationship with the Lord. I pray that those who read my words will be blessed by the Lord and find strength and comfort in His Word.

To be honest, I have had to come to terms with the fact that I am not perfect, but it is in this place of acceptance that I am able to truly worship a God who is. His infinite love brings me joy, strength, and peace, and I am thankful for the privilege of being able to serve Him.

I have also started a Social Media Ministry on Facebook, which I invite you to visit here. Being Crazy For Christ is a platform where I share my journey of faith, and I am also on YouTube – Willie Torres Jr. and I am excited to see all that God will do through it.

This is my hope, and I’m so thankful for it. I’m thankful for the love of Jesus, and I’m thankful for the chance to grow in Him together with you.

You Are Loved

Willie Torres Jr.

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