Welcome everyone to Family Talk. It's a ministry of the James Dobson Family Institute, supported by

listeners just like you. I'm Dr. James Dobson, and I'm thrilled that you've joined us.

Well, welcome to Family Talk, the broadcast ministry of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.

I'm Roger Marsh, and today we're sharing a special message from Dr. Dobson to help prepare our hearts for

Good Friday and then Easter Sunday. In 2019, Dr. Dobson wrote a powerful reflection on what it

truly means for Christians to literally

take up our cross and follow Jesus. The message you're about to hear explores the challenging

biblical truth that the Christian life involves both blessings and hardships. Dr. Dobson

reminds us that just as Christ suffered, we too are called to develop spiritual toughness that prepares us for life's

inevitable difficulties. So now please join us for this special edition of Dr. James Dobson's

Family Talk. Well, hello, everyone. I'm James Dobson, and this is Family Talk, and I wanted

to devote our program today to a letter

that I wrote to the people on our mailing list. This comes from my heart. Dear friends, I wanted

to devote my letter to the experience of hardship and persecution that often accompanies the Christian

life. I bet you haven't heard that before.

We are taught in Scripture to adopt a certain mental toughness

that is designed to protect us when trouble shows up unannounced.

The Apostle Peter referred to that mindset when he wrote,

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,

arm yourself with this same attitude.

1. Peter 4.1. This aspect of the Christian life seems to be underrepresented in today's

teachings. We often hear about the blessings and benefits of devotion to the

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