Do you ever feel very tired? Tired from carrying the ‘weight’ of life? Probably most of us do – at times.
The Beatles sang the catchy tune, “Boy, you're gonna carry that weight; carry that weight a long time…” [I’ll sing it for you sometime if you want – LOL]
Not much hope expressed there!
You actually DO NOT have to carry that weight a long time…you don’t have to carry it at all!
The ‘source’ of the weight can be any number of things – not giving our ‘stuff’ to God; working too much; not doing life in community with other Christ-followers; consistent failure in temptation; physical illness or emotional trauma…the list could go on.
Jesus spoke words of invitation to us:
Matthew 11:28 – 30 (NIV): “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The key here to the “light” burden is walking in step with Jesus and closely connected to Him, just like the two oxen that Jesus no doubt has in mind here when He refers to His ‘yoke’.
When you feel burdened:
1. Remember that you are not alone in that experience and that feeling. You’re in good company actually; biblical company, as in David in the Old Testament. In Psalm 143:4 he wrote, very honestly: “…my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.”
2. Talk to God about it, recognizing He is your “refuge & strength” (Psalm 46:1). Whatever it is, He knows all about what is going on already. However, He knows it will be helpful for you to share it and grow in your trust of Him as you do. Psalm 61:2b – “When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
3. Share how you are feeling and the source of how you are feeling (if you can even put your finger on it) with a trusted Christian friend. Galatians 6:2 – “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
All that life brings, as we live for a time in this broken world, is not yours to carry. Give it ALL to Jesus, every day!