Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (Psalm 68:19, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Feeling overly burdened? This text suggests that perhaps we are carrying more of the burden than is necessary. I know that it may be hard, but God’s Word would not say it if it were not so. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NIV 1984). I am not perfect in this respect. Far from it. But, as a family, we have had our share of burdens. See my “Our Family Album” musings, which documents our “bona fides” on this topic.
We are going through one more as I write this. My wife Eileen, who had a kidney transplant thirty-six years ago, is immunocompromised due to the anti-rejection drugs she takes. She is presently in the hospital battling an internal infection that is borderline sepsis. The suppressed immune system requires a delicate balance of protecting the transplanted kidney and fighting the infection. At this point, she seems to be turning the corner to recovery. Praise God!
What we have learned, is that “daily [bearing] our burdens” does not always mean deliverance from every burden. This has been the case with some of our burdens (death of a handicapped child, Eileen’s blindness at twenty-five). But these have caused us to learn the truth that “[His] grace is sufficient for [us], for [His] power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV 1984). We have also learned “that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (`Romans 8:38–39, NIV 1984), and that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28, NIV 1984).
My Advice – That phrase “in all things” will sometimes mean that the burdens will be too much for us to bear alone. And that brings us full circle, “praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” If you are “called” then “in all things” means that His grace is indeed sufficient in ALL things. At times, it may be difficult to understand how things could possibly “work for the good.” At such times, it is all the more important to trust in Him daily. That is not just my advice, it is our family testimony.
The Brew Is A Musing 