Burdens

I sat on my bed after dinner, gazing over the snow-covered rooftops of our neighbor’s houses, imagining them to be mountains...or at least trying. I marveled at the clear blue sky and the pink and purple clouds as they lazily drifted by. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord…” ran through my mind and became the cry of my heart. I prayed and pondered all the struggles of last week and now this week. Why, Lord, why? Why must I go through all this? Why must I face these terrible disappointments?

It is a crushing weight to bear the burdens of others. It is a weight too heavy to be borne by these slim shoulders. I have been carrying burdens, my own burdens and the burdens others have knowingly and unknowingly laid on me, for much too long. After about a week’s time, the pressure is almost enough to break me. I’m worried about several things. They nag at me, haunt me. Then, as I quietly sat speaking with the Lord, I was reminded of a verse. “What is that to thee?”

Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
John 21:21, 22

“What is that to thee? Follow thou me.” What others do, the bad choices they make, should not dissuade me from my course. If they choose to serve the world, that is their choice. Yes, it hurts, and I would give anything to change it, but I must pull myself together. I must continue on. I must follow the Lord whether they do or not. They will be accountable to God for their actions. I am accountable for mine.

God’s Word says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) But how much longer can I endure this heavy weight, the stress of it all? Then I remembered our Savior’s words, how He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) I must bear the burdens of others and my own personal concerns for them to the throne of grace in prayer. It is there that I can deposit them, knowing they are in good hands.

This is one of my favorite poems. I have it memorized, but I must learn to live it.

Bear not a single care thyself,
One is too much for thee;
The work is Mine, and Mine alone;
Thy work ~ to rest in Me.