Burden Lifting Requires Burden Giving

The fascinating thing about trouble for the child of God is that nothing happens in this world and in the life of the saint apart from Almighty God's providence, sovereignty, and His divine authority. If we are correct about who our God is, then a big God should always mean small problems. I believe that there is nothing too big for my God. I also believe that there is nothing put upon me that either God did not allow or actually orchestrate. So then, if I believe that God is good and that He is actually incapable of doing harm (James 1:13), that my God does not place more on us than we can carry, and that He provides a constant path to victory (1 Corinthians 10:13), then let my heart be glad.

The one cure for burden-bearing is to cast all burdens on the Lord. Psalm 25:22 states, "Redeem Israel, O God, out of all their troubles." It is easy to read over such a common thought in the Old Testament, but then you stop and think, "Wait a second . . . is their trouble not of God, since they sinned and God punished them and brought them to this place of despair?" As a rule, the answer is yes. So, then, we must ponder upon the thought that has plagued mankind for ages:

Why does a good God allow suffering, trials, troubles and temptation?

I will not attempt to answer that question yet again. My point in this writing is for you to see that no problem is too big, it is not there by accident and that your God wants you to turn to Him for guidance and victory.

When trouble comes, it is not because God doesn't care, but because He does care. He loves you so much and all He wants is what is best for you. Just as gold is refined by fire and iron sharpens iron, so struggle has a way of growing us and aiding us in our maturation process. Whatever burden the Lord hath given you or allowed in your life, give it back to Him. Treat the burden of care as you once did your burden of sin; kneel down and deliberately hand it over to Jesus. Say to Him, "Lord, I entrust this to you. And this, and this, and this... I cannot carry them alone, they are crushing me. You have taken my sins, now take my sorrows and, in exchange, let me experience Your peace and joy afresh and anew."

Author George Herbert wrote: "We put our trouble, trial, temptation, sorrow, suffering, and grief into Christ's bag and let Him carry them away."

I pity the poor soul who has never called on friends or family and watched them rise to do everything humanly possible to meet the need. I also pity the one who has never been called upon. Oh, we might be reluctant to ask for help and we might complain when asked, but there is no greater feeling to serve or be served. Have you not had your feelings hurt when not called upon? "Why didn't they ask me?" we say. Does our God not deserve the opportunity to prove His love for you?

Of course, there are a few conditions we must fulfill before we gladly relinquish our burdens to our Lord. First, we must have cast our sins on Him before casting our cares. I am unwilling to say that "fox hole" pleas fall on deaf ears, or that God does not care about the plight of the lost. Perhaps God uses such occasions to prove His presence and power that the lost might come to Him. However, they have no right or standing before a Holy God, thus, they have no sure expectation of intervention.

Second, the saved must be at peace with God by living according to His plan for their life, living under the cloud, obeying His laws, dependent on His Spirit.

Third, we must also feed faith with promise, for their food is essential to make it thrive. When these three steps are followed, then we can pass our cares onto Him, not like a hot potato, but as unto a loving friend who is willing to take our load and carry it for us. We don't run from our trouble - we run to the open and awaiting arms of the One who died for us.

The problem is we often feel God doesn't care or is absent from us for some reason or another. We might feel our problem is too small for the God of this universe to involve Himself with. Then there are times we might feel this problem is too complex. "I don't even know how to pray," we say.
I ask you this: How could God not want to help you through it all when He is the One who caused or allowed it?

God is not obtuse. He is aware and loves you so much that He graciously has chosen to allow trials in your life in an effort for you and He to grow closer. Remember, He chastises those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). The fact that "He never leaves us nor forsakes us" (Hebrews 13:5) tells me to expect Him working in my life, perhaps in ways that make me uncomfortable.

Preachers preach, teachers teach, parents parent, coaches coach, drill sergeants train, God works in mysterious ways. Don't fight Him, give Him back what He gives you.






In Christ,
Pastor Todd