Why carry that heavy burden?

In that misty state between wakefulness and sleep, I dreamed I was climbing a mountain with a heavy backpack on my shoulders, making the steep journey almost impossible. Then Jesus appeared on the path before me and asked why I was struggling so.

“My pack is too heavy,” I complained, “I don’t think I can make it.”

Then, Jesus gently said, “Let me see what I can do to help.”

He proceeded to open the backpack and remarked, “No wonder it’s so heavy! Why are you carrying these?”

Jesus removed two huge rocks from the pack and said, “You needn’t haul these heavy things around.” Then he hurled the rocks over the mountain’s edge. My load was instantly lightened, and I joyfully resumed the upward journey.

Reflecting later, I labeled the rocks “fear” and “problems.” I realized that in my ministry, I’d been carrying an unnecessary load.

The weight of everybody’s problems combined with fear of failure had overburdened my heart, leaving me frustrated and less effective in the pastoral work. Through that experience, God revealed that, although we are to carry one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), we cannot absorb them. Instead, we are invited to carry them to Jesus (1 Pet. 5:7). “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (Ps. 55:22).

Pastor Charles Tindley, counseling an anxious friend, said, “My advice to you is put all your troubles in a sack, take ‘em to the Lord, and leave ‘em there.”