cross to bear
Ongoing life difficulty
A cross to bear is a burden or hardship one must endure, often over a long period.
The phrase alludes to Jesus carrying his cross to crucifixion.
It typically describes ongoing difficulties rather than temporary problems: Her chronic illness has been her cross to bear.
Sometimes used with self-pity or irony for minor inconveniences: Having curly hair is my cross to bear.
Measure of heaviness
- loadCarried weight or burden
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- afflictionCause of ongoing distress
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
millstone · albatross · yoke · onus · liability · handicap · hindrance · impediment
Sustained experience of distress
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
renunciation · abnegation · martyrdom · self-denial · offering · redemption · expiation · penitence
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- patienceCalm during delays
- staminaCapacity for sustained effort
tenacity · steadfastness · grit · determination · tolerance · sufferance · persistence · constancy
State of being answerable
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- chargeCost or accusation
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
stewardship · onus · mandate · guardianship · custodianship · answerability · trust · calling
weight
Measure of heaviness
- loadCarried weight or burden
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- afflictionCause of ongoing distress
encumbrance · millstone · albatross · yoke · onus · liability · handicap · hindrance · impediment · shackle
suffering
Sustained experience of distress
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
devotion · renunciation · abnegation · martyrdom · self-denial · offering · redemption · expiation · penitence · self-sacrifice
perseverance
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- patienceCalm during delays
stamina · tenacity · steadfastness · grit · determination · tolerance · sufferance · persistence · constancy · long-suffering
responsibility
State of being answerable
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- chargeCost or accusation
commitment · stewardship · onus · mandate · guardianship · custodianship · answerability · trust · calling · lot in life
- Biblical imageryLamb of God, Good Shepherd, bread of life, light of the world, living water
- burdensburden, load, onus, obligations, weight
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- suffering metaphorsdrowning, bottomless pit, chains, cage, trapped
- Biblical ExpressionsGarden of Eden, David and Goliath, Good Samaritan, prodigal son, forbidden fruit
- Biblical ReferencesAdam and Eve, ark, forbidden fruit, Garden of Eden, Ten Commandments
cross to bearrelief
Easing of distress
blessing · blessing in disguise · gift · boon · easy street
cross to bearblessing in disguise
Apparent misfortune yielding benefit
silver lining · advantage · asset · leg up · windfall
cross to beardivine blessing
Sacred favor from deity
benediction · providence · answered prayer · miracle · heavenly reward
bear, cross, crossing, bearing, crossed, bears, overbearing, bearable, unbearable