Our Burdens
Life in this sin-cursed world has its many difficulties. God made us as relational beings because He is relational within Himself (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – 3 in 1). He has equipped us to not handle our burdens alone. We are to give them over to the Lord and help each other with them.
Give our Burdens over to our Savior:
- “you may have peace” He has offered this peace to us, but it must be found in Him. Nothing of this world offers us peace.Ask the Lord to reveal to you where you are searching for peace apart from Him. (Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility)
- “I have overcome the world” This peace is offered to us because of the victory in Christ through His life, death, and resurrection. Peace from the Lord has its foundation in our knowledge and faith that Christ overcame this world. (Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.)
- “Come to me”. This is a personal invitation to a relationship with Christ. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me”. When we are a disciple of Christ, we are to forsake all other yokes that burden us and be guided by His yoke. (Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.)
- “you will find rest for your souls”. It is not on us to save ourselves; it is the grace of God gifted to us through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.)
Sharing our Burdens with fellow believers:
True fellowship with other believers results in unity and strengthening of the church body. (Hebrews 10:24–25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.)
- “stir up one another to love and good works”. The Church body functions properly when each part is working together. (1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.)
- “encouraging one another”. We encourage each other through personal relationships that edify and strengthen each other in our Christian walk. (Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.)
The focus for each of us should not be, who can bear my burdens, but rather whose burden can I bear. (Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.)
- “Bear one another’s burdens”. This command acknowledges that we all have burdens, and we are not meant to carry them alone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.)
- “the law of Christ”. Self-focus “pride” is the culprit that keeps our attention and love on ourselves and not on others. (John 13:34–35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In closing, it should be noted that when it comes to sharing our/others’ burdens, that discernment should be taken. Not everyone is equipped to handle certain burdens that may need more professional help.
