Unnecessary Burdens

by Shelia Gaines

Verse for Thought:
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29          

When I was younger and my mother would see us carrying heavy loads, she would tease us and say laziness will kill you.  She was not so much questioning our willingness to carry a heavy load but the wisdom (or lack thereof) in having to bear the additional burden caused by all the added weight.  I often tease my son-in-law about carrying heavy loads of luggage when we are traveling.  He would rather make one trip weighted down with more bags than one person should carry rather than make two trips. Some people would prefer to have a lighter load and make two trips, but he did as we all often do from time to time.  We choose to carry a heavy load when we don’t have to.

In 1 Peter 5:7, we are reminded that we can cast all our cares upon the Lord because he cares for us.  However, we often willingly weigh ourselves down with the cares of this world.  We try to take carry things that Christ has already died on the cross to take care of.  How many people do you know who spend their lives weighted down with fear, guilt, or shame?     I am learning more and more to live free of life’s burdens.  Not by living in denial but by knowing that while we will have troubles in this world, we also have a means of dealing with those things (John 16:33).  Christ has not left us comfortless.

We used to sing a song, Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.  This is not always easy to do, but take my word for it, God really can do a better job handling those things than you can.  So, instead of spending your time carrying burdens you weren’t meant to carry, try spending your time “casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Let’s Pray:
Dear God.  Thank you for being there to bear our burdens and share our heavy loads.   Help us to trust you with all our cares and acknowledge you in everything we do, trusting that you will direct our paths as you have promised in Proverbs 3:6.  Amen.

Take the Next Step:
Do you know someone who is burdened down?  Why not share the story of the burden bearer with them?   Keep them in prayer even as you grow in your own faith.