Yesterday morning as I was setting out for work, I picked up my bag that has gone with me on many adventures. It seemed heavy, so I thought I’d clean it out before I headed out the door.

To my surprise, there were a number of pairs of shoes in that bag. Each shoe that dropped to the floor meant a lighter load to carry. I left all of those shoes at home.

With my plantar fasciitis, I switch out my shoes all day long. And depending on what I’m doing determines which shoes I wear. If I have to make several trips up and down the stairs, I wear shoes with backs to keep them on my feet. If I’m walking through the building a lot, I wear a different shoe. If I know I’ll be standing, still another shoe. So you see how important it is to have the choices.

But all of these needs makes for a very heavy bag and there comes a time when a lighter load is more important than anything else. Sometimes it is important to assess the situation and determine what can be eliminated. Sometimes it just makes sense to weed out the things that cause burdens.

So am I talking about shoes or something else here? I think both.

I personally know that I bring burdens upon myself that are not necessary. They may not seem so burdensome at the time, but after carrying that burden for a while, it can weigh me down.

I also personally know that there are burdens placed upon me by others that I may or may not have any control over. But again, after carrying the burden, I become weary from the load.

And then, there are the unforeseen burdens that just seem to show up on my doorstep (like the feral kittens in my backyard). The need to help is greater than the load that accompanies the burden. But after time, it becomes more difficult to see the outcome because of the weight of the burden.

We all carry burdens. It’s part of life. But it’s how we react, respond and eliminate the burdens that makes the difference.

So let’s take a look at what the Bible says about burdens and how we are to handle them. I pray that by the end of your day, you too will have the weight of your burdens lifted.

King David praised God for His willingness to carry our burdens. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19 – NIV) God wants to help us along the way. He is willing to carry our burdens. Each day as we give our burdens over to Him, God will bear them for us. But let’s not forget to praise God for what He is doing in our lives.

As King David shared the account of Israel coming out of Egypt, he shares God’s words and message with his readers. “I (God) removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” (Psalm 81:6-7 – NIV) We too have the opportunity to cry out to God. We don’t have to carry these burdens alone. He will rescue. He will answer. He will remove the burden as we call out to Him.

Jesus tells us that if we are carrying a burden to great to bear, He wants us to come to Him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 – NIV) Not only can we find rest in Jesus, but our burden becomes light. This may be the most encouraging passage for burden carriers!

The Apostle Paul encouraged his Galatian readers to share their burdens with one another. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 – NIV) Christ’s law is to love one another. When we assist our fellow Christians with their burdens, we are loving as Jesus would.

And on another note, Paul mentioned an important element to the Hebrew believers in Hebrews 13:17 (NIV) that we should consider. “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Are you a burden to your church leaders? Are you a complainer? Do you only offer criticism?  If so, you may be creating a burden that isn’t necessary for your leaders. Perhaps this is something we all need to look at to see if we need an attitude adjustment.

There is no need to carry the burdens of this world by ourselves. God, Jesus and fellow Christians are there to help along the way. But we must do two things. One, we must ask for help. Two, we must release the burden. By doing so, we will find rest. “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”[i]

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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