When the Burden is Overwhelming
One of the greatest challenges in our lives is how to respond to seemingly "overwhelming burdens." When the stack of papers to correct, or jobs to complete both at work and at home seem overwhelming, how do we keep our faith, and how does our faith and dependence upon the Lord interact with our need to just plain "get busy?"
The Psalmist implores us, "Cast your burden on the Lord...". (Psalm 55:22)
That seems so 'naive' and unrealistic doesn’t it? My wife recently passed the following thoughts on to me when I shared with her how pressed I was feeling by the work God had called me to do here at Grace. I have re-read it many times over and pass it on to you in hopes it can be encouraging to you as well.
"We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin and doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him - to literally "cast your burden," which He has given you, "on the Lord...". If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence."
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, "What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning." (We do NOT want this said of our efforts here at Grace!)
"Cast your burden on the Lord..." You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place it on God's shoulder... "the government will be upon His shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over on to Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
ACTION POINT:
Feeling unable? - He’s feeling plenty able and He IS in touch with His own capabilities and schedule-let the burden you’re feeling bring intimacy between you and the Lord rather than just praying for escape.
The Psalmist implores us, "Cast your burden on the Lord...". (Psalm 55:22)
That seems so 'naive' and unrealistic doesn’t it? My wife recently passed the following thoughts on to me when I shared with her how pressed I was feeling by the work God had called me to do here at Grace. I have re-read it many times over and pass it on to you in hopes it can be encouraging to you as well.
"We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin and doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him - to literally "cast your burden," which He has given you, "on the Lord...". If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence."
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, "What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning." (We do NOT want this said of our efforts here at Grace!)
"Cast your burden on the Lord..." You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place it on God's shoulder... "the government will be upon His shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over on to Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
ACTION POINT:
Feeling unable? - He’s feeling plenty able and He IS in touch with His own capabilities and schedule-let the burden you’re feeling bring intimacy between you and the Lord rather than just praying for escape.
posted by Minute for Eternity at
4:16 PM
