The Burden Carrier

Do you and I have a burden that we have carried for a long time?

A sick loved one

A loveless marriage

Another year as a single person when marriage is strongly desired

A dead-end job

Financial worries

A child who has rebelled

Continual conflict with co-workers

The threat of foreclosure

Depression

Anger

Bitterness

Unforgiveness

Raising children alone as a single parent

Unresolved issues with family members or close friends

Loss of a reputation/good name

The weight of carrying these burdens alone is enough to convince us that there is no hope for us. We can start believing the lie that no one understands our situation or truly cares. That we have to do, be, and survive all by ourselves.

A verse I included in yesterday’s post was one I had never read before. I must have read it before because I have read through the Psalms many times. But it struck my soul as though I had never gazed on its truth before:

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19

If the Lord daily bears my burden, then that means I don’t have to carry it. I don’t need to pick it up every waking moment because He already has. What I need to do is give it to Him and praise Him for His mighty, right arm that works wonders for me. I too often believe the lie that I am not doing anything if I am not trying to figure out how to solve my dilemma.

Do not fret – it only leads to evil. (Psalm 37:8)

What a relief that I don’t have to try to figure it all out. My responsibility is to be still and ask the Lord to enable me to understand and believe that He is carrying my burden for me today so that I can be free to trust Him as He works out His salvation in what troubles me most.