“My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1.2-4 (GNT)
Have you ever had to carry a heavy load with just your hands? You know, holding heavy bags from the shopping center with just your fingers. It’s easy at first, but then, as the weight bears down, your fingers weaken. The longer the walk, the harder it becomes. What felt light becomes heavier until you can no longer hang on to the bag.
I recall walking with my sisters from the grocery store carrying groceries—those days when you walked everywhere and did not have delivery services. We allocated the bags equally, with the youngest carrying the smallest load. I, of course, was holding the heavier load. On the way home, near the store, my youngest sister complained about her apportioned load. She consistently cried as we trudged along in the rain for help despite the lightness of her bag. Eventually, in utter frustration, we took her bag, adding it to our burdens. After releasing her bag to another sibling, she immediately skipped away, rejoicing without thought or remorse. It didn’t matter to her who carried her bag. She was just happy she was free of the burden, free to skip along, jumping through the puddles.
Have you been holding a burden for a long time? Are you facing potential hurdles, heavy choices, or decisions? When we face testing and temptations, the world’s burdens, we can consider it pure joy.[1] How? By recognizing that Christ has taken our burdens, placed them on his shoulders, and given us his lighter yoke.[2] If we are weary, Jesus tells us to come to him for rest.[3] We have seen him lighten our loads many times throughout our lives. It is no different when we face difficult decisions or temptations.
As James instructs, ask for wisdom during these times, and God will give to us generously.[4] Our burdens will not consume us because of the Lord’s great love. He will give us wisdom for those times and replace our load with His lighter yoke. Remember, His compassion never fails. God’s Word is faithful and true.[5]
Consider who has asked to carry your burdens while you are facing difficulty. Give those weighty obligations and decisions daily to Christ. Ask Him for wisdom. Give them to Him as He asked, and you can dance and rejoice in your hearts and experience true freedom. Will you give Christ your burdens today?
And in pure joy, you, like my little sister, can skip through the puddles in the rain, rejoicing.
[1] James 1:2-4
[2] Matthew 11:30
[3] Matthew 11:28-30
[4] James 1:5-8
[5] Revelation 8:14; 19:11; 21:5; 22:6
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