[sfa]Truly denying ourselves is NOT any easy thing to do
1 Peter speaks of and urges believers to share the suffering of Christ. If it is an easy "yoke" why call it suffering? When Christ yelled "Why have you forsaken me?" it doesn't sound like joy! Why did Jesus ask the Father to, if possible, take away the cup? But then Mt. 11:29-30 says His is an easy yoke and his suffering light...More contradictions.
Not really. I believe our Lord gives us the free will to handle and take on trials and when the trial is too heavy for us, all we need to do is ask Him for help and He will carry our burdens so we don't fall into despair.