Tuesday's Tool - Burden Bearer (Part 1)

This year has been different from any other for our family. The six of us have endured some pretty relentless trials that I won't explain in great detail because I might bore you to death! So two weeks ago Bryan and I sat in sunday morning church weary and broken, still no end in sight to the trials. As the piano gently chimed the last few lines of the end-of-the-service song, Bryan prayed "God, your Word says that your burden is easy and your yoke is light but this burden is too much for me to carry."

Friends, we were at our absolute end, unable to go on anymore. I can say that we have never been at that point before. I mean, we've gone through tough times, but we'd never experienced the amount of despair that we felt. And as the church service was wrapping up and we were putting what I call our "A-game faces" back on, God did something amazing.  He lightened our burden by sending a burden bearer to walk alongside us during this very difficult time.  And for the first time in months, we breathed and we rested.  The weight that had become too heavy was now being carried with us!

Where are you? What burdens are you carrying? Have the trials of life, the pits, the valleys, the storms (whatever you call them) worn you weary? Do you feel like you can't go on anymore?

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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." (As a side note, a yoke is a harness for 2 animals to pull a heavy load.)

an old oxen yoke

1 Peter 5:7 says "... casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

I love that word casting. It means "to throw with force." And that's what He's instructing us to do - to throw our burdens, our anxieties, and our despairs on Him. It is here that we find that much needed rest for our souls. He cares for you and me, He died for you and me, and He is the only One who can absolutely handle every burden we throw at His feet. He is the ultimate Burden Bearer. Throw it down!