Burdened?

Picture the scene.

We’ve just moved into our Midlands office, located on the second floor of a former town hall; it's now a church. While there’s a generously sized staircase and a lift connecting the ground and first floors, the second floor is only accessible via a narrow, winding wooden staircase.

As part of our setup, we were generously gifted a large, five-foot-tall metal cabinet, with sturdy metal shelving. We were very grateful, but I’m sure you can already see where this is headed. Getting this heavy, unwieldy cabinet up that staircase was no small task. Thankfully, two staff members from the church and two from the neighbouring office graciously offered to help me.

Well, ‘help me’ might be a generous interpretation of my own role.

To my embarrassment, I somehow ended up in the least load-bearing position during the cabinet’s ascent. Determined not to let others do all the work, I joined in, stretching to grab hold of the cabinet with one hand while awkwardly huffing and puffing with the strain of even that minimal contribution.

And just when I thought I was making a difference, disaster struck. I tripped over my own feet, let go of the tiny portion of weight I was carrying, and went flying backwards into a wall! My ego took the brunt of the damage—don’t worry, I was fine—but while I was busy dusting myself off, my comrades powered through. They heaved the cabinet to the top landing, mounted it onto a trolley, and rolled it into the office, where it now sits in pride of place.

So, why am I sharing this (rather mortifying) story?

BEARING THE LOAD

A few weeks later, I was praying to the Lord about some things that were weighing on me. Certain responsibilities were especially burdensome, and some tough relational situations lay heavily on my heart. I confessed to God that the weight of these burdens felt too much. Like Atlas in the Greek myth, I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders; I was straining, unsure how much longer I could keep going before I would be completely crushed.

And then this cabinet-shifting memory came to mind and a question rang out in my heart.

Who is really bearing the load?

In ministry, as in life, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the responsibilities placed upon us. The Lord calls us to good works in his name, but in this fallen world, this work is never easy. Our labour is a struggle, and there is brokenness in our relationships—even in close ones with people we are seeking to love and serve. In addition, we are at risk of slipping into the belief that everything depends on us. We’re tempted to believe that if we don’t push a bit harder, do a bit more, and just keep going (even going beyond our own healthy limits), things will fall apart.

This mindset is mistaken, and deep inside, most of us know it.

Instead of bearing down harder, what if we stepped back a moment and reconsidered who is truly holding things together?

THE TRUE BEARER OF ALL BURDENS

The first thing we can do is turn to the Psalms.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour,

who daily bears our burdens.

Psa 68.19

Cast your burden on the Lord,

and he will sustain you;

he will never permit

the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55.22 (ESV)

At times, we’re tempted to present an image of self-sufficiency. I can handle this. I can handle everything! But if we believe we’re the ones holding up the weight of the world, no wonder we feel crushed. Of course it’s too much for us! We were never designed for such a task. And, in fact, it’s an illusion that we’re doing it. This is what these beautiful verses in the Psalms remind us.

• It is the Lord who is the bearer of our burdens, each and every day.

• It is the Lord who carries the weight of all the things he’s given to us to do.

• It is he who lifts, steadies, and sustains all things (including us).

• Where your strength fails, his never does. Where you stumble, he remains firm.

• It is the Lord who really ‘gets it up the stairs’, even if he delights to have us ‘helping’.

He is not asking you to carry a weight that only he can bear. He is inviting you to release your grip on that weight and trust that his hands are already firmly in place.

ARE YOU FEELING THE STRAIN?

What are you heaving up the proverbial staircase right now? Are you overloaded with ministry responsibilities? Is relational friction weighing you down? Are financial concerns or practical tasks feeling like too much?

Today, remember this. You do not bear this weight alone.

The sovereign Lord of the universe bears your burdens with you. When you face a daunting ‘staircase’, you can entrust the task to the Lord who is already at work with you and in you. He’s always there, always reliable and faithful. The responsibility doesn’t lie with you alone. He’s by your side, shouldering your burdens. Always.

So, may I encourage you with the words of Psalm 55 again? Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you (Ps 55.22a). Knowing that our Lord carries our burdens gives us amazing freedom. And yet there is another truth that is just as precious.

We too are being carried.

Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been borne by me from before your birth,

carried from the womb;

even to your old age I am he,

and to gray hairs I will carry you.

I have made, and I will bear;

I will carry and will save.

Isa 46.3-4

These are prophetic words for the ancient Hebrews, but they resonate, don’t they? They contain so much encouragement that continues into the new covenant era.

If you’re a leader, you have many responsibilities, that much is true. At times, it’s natural to feel burdened, but be assured of this. As you carry the weight of your obligations, he is carrying you. At all times.

He will never, ever drop you.

If this post has spoken to you, do join me in this prayer.

Heavenly Father,

I come to you today with tight fists grasping on to things that are weighing me down. I know I need to let go of them, but I’m struggling.

[Take a moment to name some of the things that spring to mind.]

Father, help me see afresh that you are the one who is bearing the weight of these burdens. Loosen my straining grip, and help me to believe and trust that they do not depend on me.

Help me to rest in the liberating truth of your sovereignty. Give me eyes to see that you lovingly bear me, even as I seek to serve you and those around me with love and faithfulness.

Amen