Why Carry That Burden?

A friend called and told me she would no longer be a part of our small group. I hung up the phone and realized I felt rejected. What did that say about me as leader? Unfortunately, I was taking it personally.

Jesus spoke to my spirit, “Let me carry your burden. Let that fall on me. I am your burden-bearer.” After that thought went through my mind, I noticed I no longer felt the rejection. This scripture came to me: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me” (Romans 15:3).

How wonderful that we have One who “who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He is still bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows. (Isaiah 53:4)

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so He weeps with us just as He wept with Mary and Martha. He shares every burden we bear. He invites us to her cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)

“My great business in life is to please God. Walking with Him in the light, I never feel a burden,” was Hudson Taylor’s testimony. When we live the wonderful life of faith, the Lord is our burden-bearer. He says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but tell me your requests, and I will attend to them.”

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). Just as a humble animal might bear heavy sacks of grain, so Jesus, in His infinite compassion, bears our burden in order to lift us up and relieve our distress.

Dear Jesus, forgive me for every time I carry my own burdens instead of giving them to You.