Do you ever stop to look at the burdens you carry? Or reflect long enough to recognize how long you have been holding them? Maybe it is time to pause and take a look to see if you need to cast them to the Lord.
While rushing through the grocery store, I ran into a friend. I knew she had been carrying a heavy load laden with fear, pain, and suffering. I was genuinely concerned about how she was doing and hoping I could offer a little comfort.
After listening for a few minutes, it was apparent the stress had caught up to her, which was completely understandable. We can’t persevere for the long haul without some battle wounds. But what happened next took me by surprise and started an uncomfortable stirring within.
She reminded me I too carry a heavy load riddled with stress, pain, and difficulty and it also must be hard. I admit I brushed it off a bit with the attitude of yes, but your circumstances are harder. We don’t need to talk about me.
Do you compare your difficulties to others and determine yours can't be that hard? #burdens #mareedee #perseverance Click To Tweet
Then late last night, I came across Rebecca Hastings post on perseverance for the second time. However, this time, I clicked it open. As I read her words, my eyes welled up, and the tears began to drop one by one down on to my computer.
You see, I am good at persevering through a short-term crisis. I grab God one hundred percent and go. But then I adjust and settle into my new rhythm of life and somehow quit casting my burdens on the Lord.
As I go along, I tend to underestimate the burdens I carry. Then little by little, I tend to pick up more. Each one alone seems so small. But together and over time, the burdens add up to a mighty weight.
Can you relate to failing to cast your small burdens on the Lord?
Rebecca Hastings reminded me –
“But when we bring those things to God — even the ones that seem small — we no longer need to carry them on our own.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”
Rebecca Hastings has a beautiful website where you walk away feeling as if you gained a friend over coffee. Today, you will find her article on (in) courage. She points us directly to the source of where we need to go, even with the smaller burdens. Plus, she tells a story which helps us see how the amount of time we carry a burden is significant.
Now for Our Featured Post
The Weight of Perseverance
By Rebecca Hastings
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Remember, we were never meant to do life alone. We need each other to point us in the right direction when we veer off course. Click To Tweet
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thank you for featuring Rebecca here this week, Maree … her posts are always fresh and inviting.
and it’s so good to visit with you this week!
Linda – I agree Rebecca’s posts are fresh and inviting. Thank you for visiting this week. Maree
Small burdens can certainly weigh us down before we even realize it!
Pinned & tweeted.
Thanks for hosting the link-up and thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Thank you Patsy for sharing. I love linking up over at InstaEncouragements! Maree
Dear Maree Dee, how true that the small burdens can add up without us even noticing it. Perhaps it is the nature of women, the nurturing, caring part that seeks to love and care for. Thank you for the gentle reminder that we have a Savior that longs to do exactly that for us. Blessings!
Alice,
Yes, I think you are right; it does have quite a bit to do with the nature of women. I am leaning into our Savior tonight. Maree
It’s going the distance in the hard yards of life with Him that is the biggest test I’ve found, especially when nothing appears to change. I’m glad we have Jesus!
Blessings,
Jennifer
Jennifer, Me too! I don’t know what I would do without Him. Maree
Yes, those little burdens do add up, and often we’re unaware of how many we are carrying ourselves when we could be unloading them. I know I’m guilty of that! I love how we all learn from each other and how the Spirit guides us to the things we need to hear.
Lisa – Yes, it is pretty amazing how the Spirit guides us and puts people along our path to show us. I hope you have a great weekend. Maree
Very interesting and to the point.
Maree, I was in a very difficult situation for 3 months. In that time, I suffered mentally and physically. I became suicidal and began thinking of ways to take my own life. Like….overdosing on my medications that I take for my Severe Major depression and generalized Anxiety Disorder. I looked up on how to take large quantities of my meds and end my life peacefully with no pain. I called my friend that I knew for 29 years and told her that I was suicidal. We had a long ,a very long chat and I decided that I will not do it. I will live until my God delivers me from this very difficult, mentally painful situation. ..and He DID deliver in His timing!!
Amen! Kalyani I am so excited you chose to live. Thank you for sharing here today. You matter so much to God and others. I am thankful for your friend who was willing to have this conversation with you. I wasn’t entirely clear on whether you were still suffering from your mentally painful situation, or God took it away. I would love to pray for you accordingly. You blessed my day today. Maree
Thank you. Love Rebecca’s posts!
Blessings,
Homer Les
http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca
Me too! She has such words of wisdom. Maree
I had not seen that post–thanks so much for sharing it! It’s all too easy to keep carrying things and forget His invitation to cast them on him.
Barbara – Yes, it is. Maree