Heavy Burdens?

 

Tuesday — a day of fatigue. I can blame staying up too late last night but hoped a Blue Jay win would perk me up. Finally, I went to bed long before the tie-breaking home run by the Dodgers. 

This morning, God reminded me that weariness happens because of the energy it takes to stay connected to needy people. Our granddaughter made it to Canada, was not allowed to fly to our city and sent to a nearby hospital on the west coast. Today, she is released to fly and trying to get a ticket, last we knew. This five days of long-distance care has drained my emotional resources, was lifted on Sunday by the music and message, and two surprising and wonderful answers to prayer. But I am still tired. 

Relationships are complex and I long for the day when all brokenness, whether hearts or bones, gives way to perfection. I also look forward to an eternity of no more grudges or complaining, hard-heartedness or fragile-hearts, hurt feelings or bullying, broken communication, innuendo or bravado or anything that hides the beauty of Jesus, the One who calls the weary and heavy laden to come to Him for rest:

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)

I note this says “souls” and not “bodies” and know that watching sports doesn’t give that physical rest either. Instead, this is rest for the weariness of trying to carry the things that burden me, rest that only Jesus can give — for He isn’t into giving me a load too heavy and that I have to carry myself.
These days of deep concern for our GD bring words like, “God bless you” yet we Christians tend to interpret that to mean comfort and no problems. The Lord’s definition of blessing is not always about the perks of living…

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1–2)
Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (Romans 4:7–8)

One writer says he is blessed: “whether I live in a penthouse or an outhouse, drive a BMW or pedal a bicycle, feast on caviar or munch on a crust of bread, have a retirement fund or live from paycheck to paycheck, wear updated fashion or hand-me-downs…” There is no greater state of blessedness than simply to be in Christ, and to know that He is looking out for me. 

That said, I’m not to use what I have been blessed with for my own glory. It is not wrong to be on the comfortable side of things, but to fix my trust and reliance on them is to rob God of His due. He is my Creator, Lord of all, supreme over all things, even the discomforts and trials of life. To make personal comfort my sole goal is idolatry. Complaining is evidence of that sinful goal, also evidence that I think my ideas and desires are more worthy than His. Shame on me. He sends me to bed when I’m tired, but I still try to run my own life. This can show up in prayer by my impatience, and my telling Him what to do rather than surrendering to His will. If I limit Him that way, I would miss all His awesome surprises.

PRAY: I notice that fatigue can easily send me away from You and also into self-pity, which is another way of mocking Your goodness, as if You do not care. The gospel is always the answer to this and other foolishness. You died for me that I might live. Whatever else happens is part of Your good plan to transform me into Your image. All my complaining only slows the process and robs You of glory. So I come to You for rest from my anxieties and ask clarification concerning “light burdens” because You do ask me to be yoked with You.