Carrying the Weight of the World

Aloe Blacc sang that he had tried to carry the weight of the world but he only had two hands. His words speak to the reality of how we are trying to live on a daily basis. Each day, we wake up and we carry so much with us that before we even leave the house, we are struggling to take the next step because of the load we are carrying. Our minds are exhausted. Our bodies are struggling. We feel beaten down and nearly defeated.

Scripture tells us that, as believers, this is not to be our normal. The Lord has more for us in life and with the Lord in our lives, we do not have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Here is what we read in 1 Peter, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 HCSB) Rather than carrying those cares, concerns, worries, and anxieties, we are called to cast them over to the Lord. He knows what we need. He knows where we are. He understands what we are facing. He has proven throughout the generations to be able to carry those burdens, freeing us from the weight of the worries to live free in the faith.

Some of us carry the burdens of the past. The mistakes that we made, the failures we endured, the hurts and the regret, but again, those are not ours to carry. As we have taken those things to the Lord, as we have asked for forgiveness for those wrongs, we have to accept the forgiveness of God and forgive ourselves. Scripture tells us that we have no reason to carry the past with us. As Psalm tells us, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12 HCSB) The past is over. It is gone and those sins for which we have repented, they are removed from us. They are so far removed that we should regret should have turned into rejoicing. God took them away and no longer when He sees us does He see those mistakes. Such a truth brings about a hallelujah from the soul.

Take a moment to breathe today. You are weary and worn but the Lord tells us that in that condition, He is where we are to turn. Jesus implored, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 HCSB) These words of Jesus are beckoning you to come to Him today and leave those burdens at His feet, placing those concerns in His hands. He is able. He is there and He calls you.

By the grace of God, we do not have to carry the weight of the world. We were not designed to do so. Rather, we are called to give the weight of the world over to the Creator of the universe, in whose hands we know are able to carry the weight. Today, we have the opportunity to let go and let God do what only God can do. Cast it all on the Lord and see how your hands are freed up to do the work He has called you to do.