Guidelines For Living

Harold Sala: The barrier that keeps us from prayer is not whether or not we think God is strong enough to help us, but whether we are humble enough to bow the knee and admit we need help. Many of us, however, distance ourselves from God, wondering if he is really interested in us because of who we are. Yes, we know our imperfections better than we know God's strength and compassion. So we feed the nagging voice of doubt and withdraw into our caves of lonely isolation.

David, a man whose triumphs and failures cover a vast spectrum, once cried out, "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Stop. What exactly is a burden? It's a load you carry, whether it's physical, emotional, or spiritual. It is something which keeps you from being at your best. It can be a persistent, nagging problem, or something which confronted you in life which you didn't choose—the care of an elderly parent, a problem with your health, a physical impairment which leaves you somewhat handicapped.

But does God actually bear our burdens? And if so, what does that mean? First, it means that he cares, that he is not indifferent to what is happening to you. The book of Hebrews tells us that nothing is hidden from him, but everything is seen by him. The words "nothing" and "everything" stand in sharp contrast. Most of the time, we immediately think that God is observing and noting our failures.

Yes, but it also means he knows the desires of your heart, your struggles to do right, and the sensitivity that brings you to your knees repeatedly to find greater strength and forgiveness when you fall. Only someone who has a sincere, compassionate interest in another cares enough to bear your load and to help you. Sometimes God works through a friend. Sometimes he works through his word. Sometimes he actually comes alongside and touches your heart in such a way that you walk away uplifted, joyful, and relieved of your burden.

Paul told the Galatians they were to bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. The Greek word that Paul used means to bear a heavy weight or something difficult. It came from the same root that means to reach deep down within something. Ah, that's an interesting thought. A real friend doesn't let you get away with an "everything is just fine" response to the question of "how are you?" when worry and turmoil are written in the lines of your face. A friend insists you tell him where you are hurting.

In another psalm, David wrote, "Cast your cares—burden is another translation—on the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall." This, of course, means that you are the one who has to humbly bow and say, "Lord, I need your help today." Jesus said, "Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." And there you have the concept of laying your burden at the feet of the shepherd of your soul.

In one of her books, Hannah Whitall Smith tells of a man bearing a heavy load on his back, walking on a country road as a farmer passes by with an empty load. "I'll give you a lift," volunteers the farmer, whereupon the lad climbs up on the empty wagon but doesn't remove his load. "Set down your load," he says, and the youth remonstrates, "Oh no, sir, it is too much to expect you to carry both me and my load."

Are you carrying a heavy load? Only you prevent God's help from bearing that load for you every single day. Think about it. It is true. He still carries our burdens.