05/26/2019
Do you carry around a heavy load of stress, and anxiety that comes from all the problems you have in your life? Do you keep repeating “The Lord won’t put any more on me than I can endure.” as if that were scripture? Yet, the problems keep mounting and you are about to break? Well that saying isn’t scripture, and the Lord never intended that we solve our own problems, but rather that we bring them to Him. We were not created self-sufficient; we were made to need God, to love Him, and be worshipful of Him.
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalms 55:22 ESV
My wife and I were having this discussion last night, and it came as the result of a new devotional she is reading. We spoke of how nowhere in the Bible does it say that we will be given the ability to handle our own problems without the direct aid of God. Then, low and behold, this morning I opened the devotional I am reading, and the subject of today’s writing is this selfsame topic, and the scripture verse was the same one I quoted her last evening. You can become overburdened, you can become physically damaged, you can have a nervous breakdown, and you can loose your mind... all as the result of problems, and concerns over problems in your life. But, this is not God’s desire... He wants us to seek Him out in prayer and lay our burden on Him. Listen to what Charles Spurgeon has to say on this subject...
“We worry about things that we fancy God will forget. We labor to take our weary burden on ourselves, as if He were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this is disobedience to His plain command, this unbelief in His Word, the presumption of intruding onto His province is a sinful way of thinking. But more than that, our anxious care often leads to acts of sin.” - Charles Spurgeon
In the Bible we read that David was pursued by King Saul, his life was in constant danger and made a living hell. He slept in caves and suffered in the wilderness, and yet when he was given the opportunity to kill Saul and end this reign of torment he chose not to... instead he honored the Lord’s commandments, and continually prayed for God’s guidance and deliverance. This is contrary to our human nature. If you don’t believe that then watch the morning news, and count the murders, robberies, and such that occur around us.
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
Why just this morning there was a story on CBS with the title “Iraq Vet Questioned about Girlfriend’s Beating Death. There was another on NBC titled “Police: 17-year-old suspect robbed man and shot him in the leg”, and these are just the tip of the iceberg. These are the daily headlines, and the crimes are committed by someone who didn’t hand their situation over to God. Failure to place our burdens on the Lord leads to sin every day, in our neighborhood, city, nation, and around the world. Horrific things are done by desperate, and burdened, people who have failed to trust in God.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."”
Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
God is the source of our strength, and He is our Great Deliverer. Even Jesus, in His perfection, needed God’s strength before enduring the cross, so what makes us think we can face the world, and its hardships alone? Our faith is no different than that of Jesus... our faith like His is in the Lord. Our deliverance, provision, and even death, like our savior’s, is by His will. So knowing His goodness, mercy, and grace, what do we fear, and why do we sin in an attempt to relieve our own burden? Why do we steal when we are in need? Why do we lie in an attempt to get what we want? Why do we murder to remove our hardship or suffering? Listen to Jesus as He prayed...
“saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
Luke 22:42-44 ESV
We are going to face trouble, hardship, suffering, and death in our lives, but when we place our faith in the Lord, and give those things over to Him, we will receive relief. Sometimes it will come in the form of rescue, or provision, and sometimes we will be met by the silence of God, but it will always come in the form of his strength that gives us His peace in the midst of the storm... that is, if we trust in Him and remain in His will.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
So are you about to collapse from the weight of the world? Are you hungry, or have no place to find shelter from the storms? Well, look no further than Jesus who will provide peace and redemption by the grace of God. Give your burden over to Him, and ask for His help... and He will give you peace in this moment of trial.
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Though the entire world should crumble about you, if you love, trust, and have faith in the Lord... then you have everything. He is our portion, and this world is nothing but a shadow.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalms 73:26 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your goodness, and mercy, in my times of great hardship and suffering. I thank you Lord for providing for me, and defending me, but even in those times when it appears you are silent, I thank you for your peace that comes over me. I praise you Father, from the midst of all my storms, for you are with me always, and in every difficulty you settle my mind, and reaffirm your will for my life. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who restores my soul, and who allows me to dine in the presence of my enemies. I am weak, but you are strong Father, and I lean on you always because you will never forsake me... even in the face of death... even as I am nailed to my cross as Jesus was. Praised be your name Holy Father, for you are with me always, and give me strength when I am weak. All glory is yours through your grace that flows through Jesus, and brings rest and peace to my soul.
“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV
Rich Forbes