Not Meant For Us to Carry – Devotion 322

Some burdens we weren’t meant to carry. There are some things which weigh us down and are just too much to carry alone. Some of us are really determined (read stubborn). We carry burdens alone because we think we can. We do it ‘for the sake of others’. We carry burdens alone because we don’t want to bother anyone else. We take the heavy weight and figure it will just make us stronger. The saying is…what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…right? So we trudge forward and just try to keep it together. We do just fine until we don’t. We can find ourselves falling apart or so weighed down we can’t even move any more. We are so burdened we cannot even live, truly live. This causes health, emotional, spiritual, relationship, and mental issues. Don’t get me wrong – we don’t choose it. We didn’t seek it out. We were trying to do the right thing by just moving forward. But we end up carrying burdens we weren’t meant to carry. At some point, we collapse.

Jesus knows this about us. He was speaking to us when he had Matthew pen his words. He wants us to hear this is not the life he has for us. This is not where he intends for us to be. This is not living abundantly. We have taken on more than he asked. And now he is here to rescue us. Rescue may look like an immediate peace. It may feel like a sudden relief of the load. But more than likely, it looks like our hesitation to give up any of our burdens in fear. We allow the ‘what ifs’ to take over our minds. We begin to panic because this has been our life for so long. I think this is why Jesus asks us to give him our burdens and find rest. We don’t just keep going. Sometimes we need rest. Sometimes we simply need to rest in him knowing he is going to take care of us.

I don’t know what burdens you carry, but I do know too many of us carry burdens we weren’t meant to take on. If this is you, today may be the day of release. Today may be the first step in beginning to lose grip on the things which hold us down. Today may be the first day we actually begin to live. Or, we may find we just need rest.

Focus Scripture:

Matthew 11:28-29

²⁸“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.