The weight was heavy. The thought crossed my mind that I would not be able to handle it…it was too much to bear. As I grunted and struggled, I knew I needed help. So I set the weight down.
At the time, it was that easy. Because I had loaded the weight bar too heavy and the thought of hurting my back while trying to squat was not even as terrifying as the embarrassment of having to cry out to my fellow gym members, “Help, I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” The fear of falling down and the resulting pain and humiliation wasn’t worth me holding on to the weight. So I set it down.
Sometimes, the reality is that the weight isn’t physical. We can’t just physically set down something that we’ve emotionally or spiritually picked up and, many times, it isn’t something we’ve picked up but something that has been thrust upon us. You know what I’m talking about…a child struggling with a bully or disorder, a friend diagnosed with cancer or going through a painful divorce, or the loss of a loved one. But it’s still weight. It weighs heavy on your soul, burdens your heart and feels like you could work a major leg-burn if you only had the energy and the will to do some walking lunges or squats. It’s that weight that feels like it just might take you down.
“What a glorious Lord! He who daily bears our burdens also gives us our salvation.” Psalm 68:19
So, we pray. We look for solutions. We talk to others to give or receive advice. And yet, we walk away tired because we still are carrying the burden. We pray some more, we ask God for answers, and present our requests. We feel helpless. But we aren’t.
“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 GNT
To achieve this rest that Jesus promises, we have to do more than just come to Him in prayer. We have to choose to give Him our weight. We have to be willing to set it down in His strong, mighty and all-powerful hands.
“Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.” Psalm 55:22
It really is that easy. The hard part is the trust it takes to hand over the weight. We have to trust God with the outcome of the weight, and where He puts it. It involves our giving up control of how things turn out – because that is where the burden is, isn’t it??? We want healing, we want resolution, we want our child to be vindicated or understood. We want it to turn out the way we want it to turn out. But what if that isn’t God’s plan? Do you still trust in His best for you?
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
As heavy as the weight is, the eternal glory that comes from that trouble outweighs it. I know, it doesn’t feel like it. You’re watching your child or your friend endure something painful, or you yourself are going through what feels like the weight of the world. But can I tell you? Our God is greater, stronger and far more powerful than Hercules? He’s got the whole world in His hands, after all.
“Your arm is endued with power, your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.” Psalm 89:13
Rest in Him, sweet friend. My heart hurts for you. I ache for the pain you are feeling, for the trouble you are walking through, for the pain your children are going through or the pain their (or our) rebellion may cause. But all I can do, and what Jesus asks us to do, is turn it over to Him. Set the weight down, friend. Let Him take the weight from you, trust Him with the outcome, and rest in His hands. He will not let you fall without helping you get back up.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”Psalm 91:1-2
Almighty Father, I thank you for taking my weight. Even now as I pray, bring to mind any burdens that I am trying to shoulder alone or areas where I’m not trusting you with them. Help me, Lord, to release them into your mighty hands and walk in peaceful trust of your best for me. I love you, Father. Amen.
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