God doesn’t just carry us; He’ll carry our burdens too! Pastor Jim submitted the following for the February issue of Steeple Notes (our church newsletter)…
PLEASE READ:
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
“...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
As we journey through this new year there is understandable excitement and anticipation. For some however, the burdens, challenges, and “troubles” of life continue to follow. The good news of being a child of God is that we do not have to carry these burdens alone. In fact, our faith reminds us that God is ready, willing, and able to carry our burdens and us! 
Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV): “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This not just a teaching limited to the New Testament but is part of the entire message of the Bible. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 40:31 (KJV), “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
While we may be tempted to carry our own burdens, while our pride may dictate that we can carry our burdens without God’s help, while we may be tempted to look for avenues outside of God to assist us with carrying our burdens, this is not wise. The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, taught that “no one or nothing else can give us freedom and rest, only Jesus. It is a rest which is a free gift from a loving God.” This story which follows beautifully describes this for us.
A certain man had a daughter who was unable to walk. One day the man came home from work with a package for his wife. He asked his daughter, “Where is your mother?” His daughter replied, “She is upstairs.” Then the father told his daughter that he had a package for her mother. The girl said, “Let me carry it up to her.” “But, you can’t walk up the steps yourself,” replied the father. Then the girl said, “But I can take the package and you can carry me.” So the man picked up both his daughter and the package and carried them both upstairs.
You and I may be carrying a package which may be filled with burdens, grief, fear, anxiety, restlessness, hopelessness, or any number of things. FRIENDS the good news of the Christian faith, the good news of the Gospel, is that God picks us up so we can stand on mountains. God picks us up so we can walk on stormy seas, God picks us up and carry’s us AND our burdens as we trust ourselves and our burdens into His capable hands. Jesus said in John 16:33b, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (NIV).
When we are riding in God’s arms, we are strong, we will endure, and we will conquer! The Apostle Paul wrote “… in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Shalom,
Pastor Jim
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