Just a Minute Devotional #52
Leave your heavy load with me
Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28, CEB)
I knew her and loved her, even when she was sulky and full of complaints. I noticed that she carried a heavy-looking backpack.
After a long period of hearing her complaints and seeing her weariness, I asked, “What are you carrying in that backpack? I think that might be the source of all your aches, pains, and tiredness. You carry it every day. It’s not good for you to carry that weight.”
She put her backpack down on her desk and began to open it. She said, “You don’t understand. These are things I have to keep with me at all times. I can’t be without them. I must carry them.”
Even though I already knew its content, I asked her, “Let me see.” She was hesitant, fearful of my reaction to the things she was about to reveal.
When she opened it, there were five large rocks with words imprinted on them.
The first rock had the word “finance” on it.
She explained that money had been tight in her family since her husband had received a significant pay cut. They could not meet their bills.
The second rock had the word “marriage.”
She explained that, because of the mounting bills, arguments had been erupting between her and her husband. There was a strain on their marriage.
The third rock had the word “children.”
Due to the marital and financial issues, there was a significant toll on the children.
The fourth rock was “exhaustion.”
Again, because of the first rock, she had been working four part-time jobs to make ends meet. She was fatigued.
The fifth rock was “hopelessness.”
She explained that she had prayed and prayed over the situation for three years, but nothing was changing. She was beginning to feel like no one was hearing her prayers.
I wept with her as I could see the source of her complaints and pain. She needed my help.
I asked her if there had been any improvement in the situation by carrying the very first rock. She had to admit that the answer was, “No!”
I asked her, “You told me that you have been praying about the situation, but have you ever thought about releasing it and giving it to me?”
She nervously said, “But what if we lose our home?”
I asked again, “Is there any improvement by worrying about it? Does it help your finances at all? In reality, you are carrying the weight, and the finances do not change at all. So now you have both financial problems and the heavy load.”
It was then she decided to release that weight, even if it meant losing everything.
The first rock was the hardest for her to surrender, the others a little less so. I carried them to the foot of a cross in my garden.
We prayed and cried together.
I, the Lord, took my sledgehammer and crushed those rocks to pieces. I planted a seed and watered the ground, letting the sand from the stones soak into the soil. From those rocks, I brought forth a beautiful rose bush.
My daughter’s release brought healing.
Are you tired of the heavy load you carry? Then, lose it all to the Lord, and He will give you renewal.
All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will find them. (Matthew 16:25, CEB)
