“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22
There is the story in the Talmud of a poor man who had no wagon or donkey to carry his heavy bundles. He had to carry the load on his back and walk many miles with his burdens to the village. A wealthy man with a large wagon rode by. Seeing the poor man struggle with his burdens, he stopped and offered the man a ride. The poor man was more than grateful to have his burden eased.
After traveling some time, the wealthy man noticed that his companion was sitting with his bundles still upon his shoulders. “Why don’t you put your belongings down?” asked the wealthy man. “There is plenty of room in my wagon to lay your burdens down. Are they not heavy?”
“Indeed, they are,” sighed the poor man. “But you have been more than gracious to offer me a ride and I do not wish to take advantage of you by weighing down your wagon.”
We read this story and think how foolish the man was. But how often do we come to the Lord with a need or with something that is troubling us. We spend time in prayer, asking Him to meet us and we thank Him for hearing us, and for meeting our need. Then we get up and go about our daily chores, still carrying a heavy burden on our hearts, wondering and worrying about how things are going to turn out.
I had a copy of a poem which I carried around in my Bible for years. Somewhere, I misplaced it, but as near as I remember it went like this:
“Tis wonderful surely to carry your burden with a smile and a shrug that seems gay
While you push back the heartache and carry the sorrow when it seems that there’s no other way.
But I’ve found that no sorrow or heartache or trial is too great for my Saviour to bear
So, I take them and give them to His precious keeping and thank Him and leave them there.
And wonder of wonders the heart that was breaking, the pain that was hurting, the trial
Are no longer my burdens but His and my portion is gladness and joy and a smile.”
God hears our prayer the first time we ask Him, and there is nothing wrong with asking Him every day until we receive our answer. But in between our prayer times, we need to leave it with Him and trust Him to do what is best for us.
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that we can bring our burdens to you in prayer and know that You care and that you will give us the answer we need according to Your will. Help us to leave our burdens at your feet.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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