Tired of Carrying
I am writing this as Donna and I are (hopefully) in the home stretch of moving from one house to another. By the time you read this, we will (once again–hopefully) be settled in at our new location. [Editor’s note: they are!]
As I write this, Donna and I are both very tired. We are tired physically, emotionally, and in other ways I’m probably too tired to think about.
Before I got to my office this morning, I mentioned to Donna that I was looking forward to being able to walk somewhere without carrying something with me. For days now, I’ve been lifting, lugging, and tugging. At first, I didn’t think much about what the extra baggage was doing to me. As this continues to wear on, it continues to wear on me.
I just want to be able to relax. If total relaxation is not in the picture (and it rarely is for us), at least I would like to be able to go about my business without carrying all of the extra stuff I’m having to carry now.
It occurs to me that the majority of people with whom I come into contact and the majority of people in the world have a similar, but much more serious, issue. Their lives are weighed down by sin. It may be, that at first, their particular sin and/or lifestyle did not seem to be that big of a deal. Now, however, they feel a constant burden. They would just like to be able to rest from the guilt they feel; the shame and embarrassment they have caused; and a general feeling of despondency and helplessness.
Some have tried dull the effects of their burdens with alcohol and/or other substances. To their dismay, when the effects of those substances wear off, the burdens are still there. In fact, they come to realize that they now have added another burden; the burden of dependency and/or addiction.
Others have tried other means to find rest, comfort, and peace of mind. Some seem to have worked for the short term. None have or will work for the long term.
Are you one who is tired of carrying? Do you know somebody who is?
May I make some suggestions about the only way to find what you or they are looking for?
The Holy Spirit inspired the writer of Hebrews to challenge God’s people to “…lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely…” (Heb. 12:1).
The apostle Peter was inspired to those who had been “…born again to a living hope…” (1 Peter 1:3). He encouraged them to “[cast] all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
It was the Lord, Himself, who said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30, emphasis added).
During our time of transition, some good people have helped Donna and me by pointing us to ways in which the load was not as heavy as it otherwise could have been. They will never know how valuable that is or how special they are to us.
This experience has helped me to understand even more clearly my role as a Christian. If there is any way that I can help anybody see his or her need for a relationship with Jesus, I want to point them to Him.
After all, it is only after a life of serving Him, that I can benefit from this wonderful promise that was recorded by the apostle John:
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds do follow them’” (Rev. 14:13).
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