As a man drove down a road he saw an elderly woman carrying a heavy load. He stopped to see if she wanted a ride but she told him that she lived close by and could get there by herself. But feeling led by the Spirit he persisted. She finally agreed and climbed into the car.
When the man looked in the rearview mirror, he saw the elderly woman in the backseat still holding her heavy load. The man laughed to himself and told the woman since she was in the car now that she could let go of the load and rest but the elderly woman refused. She told him that she didn’t want to weigh down his car with her load so she would continue to carry it since she was already getting a ride from him, she didn’t want to invade or burden his space anymore than she already had.
This story was told to us by a preacher in Pattaya that actually had this happen to him. Hearing the story, it seems so silly that the woman wouldn’t put down her heavy load and rest while in the car. But in reality, we’re all like this elderly woman.
Some of us carry burdens around with us everyday. Some of us carry these burdens around for years. None of us have to carry any of these burdens, in fact none of us are supposed to. We have a place that we can lay our burdens and rest in the fact that they will be carried for us. But the longer I’ve been on the World Race, the more I’ve noticed just how many people carry burdens that God never intended for them to carry and how much of a negative impact that it has on their lives. I’ve also seen people who have released their burdens to God and the peace that comes into their lives.
So if you’re carrying a heavy load today, why don’t you let go of it and rest in the fact that God will take care of you? Why go another day carrying around a burden that God never intended for you to carry?
“Cast your burdens on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalms 55:22
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
