Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?” The Word of God tells us that if we cast our burden upon the Lord, he will Sustain us. (Psalm 55:22)

We would much rather have no burdens at all. It would be better for us if the Lord just kept us from having any burdens at all. But burdens are a big part of the Christian life.

There is a word picture for us in Psalm 81:6. Some one is described as having a burden on his shoulder. The Lord did not take the burden away. In stead, he removed his shoulder from the burden and put his shoulder there.
Jesus invited all who were laboring under a heavy burden to come to him that they might have rest (Matthew 11:28). If they would yoke up with him, their burden would be lighter.

The story is told about a man, Who was carrying a heavy basket. His young son asked him if he could help. The father allowed him to help, knowing that the little boy would not be able to lift much.

So he cut a stick and placed it through the handle of the basket so that the end toward himself was very short, while the end toward the boy was three or four times as long. Each took hold of his end of the stick, and the basket was lifted and easily carried by both of them.

The son was bearing the burden with the father, but he found his work easy and light because his father assumed the heavy end of the stick. Just so it is when we bear the yoke with Christ. He Sees to it that the burden laid on us is light. He carries the heavy end.