Where did you get your burden and where are you taking it?

My family has been feeling a lot of "weight" recently. Probably some of the same burdens many families feel.

Lonliness--losing friends, or those you thought were friends is not fun.

Confusion over the actions and unkind words of others.

Business--sometimes there is just too much to do in one 24 hour period.

Decisions-- ever have to make one before you are ready? Not fun, either.

Financial--Just how are you going to pay for it all?

Family--if they only knew how much you loved them maybe they would treat you differently?!?!

None of the above are pleasant, but perhaps the worst burden is fear for the soul of a loved one. Sometimes "real burdens" can get really, really big and cause depression and despair.

"I hear people say all the time with good intentions. ‘God will never place a burden on you so heavy that you cannot possibly carry it.’
Really?
My experience is that God will place a burden on you so heavy that you cannot possibly carry it alone. He will break your back and your will. He will buckle your legs until you fall flat beneath the crushing weight of your load. All the while He will walk beside you waiting for you to come to the point where you must depend on Him.

I was talking to my husband the other day (while grocery shopping of all things) about all this and he reminded me that we need to examine where are burdens are coming from. We don't accept 'gifts' from satan! So how exactly do you know if this 'weight' you are feeling is a God-given burden, or an enemy sent despair? Here is what my wise, loving hubby said, and I paraphrase, because I cannot remember his exact words.

"A burden from God will be wrapped in love and delivered with the faith to believe for an answer. A spirit of discouragement from the enemy will be wrapped in fear and delivered with encouragement to despair of anything ever changing."

Yes, there is such a thing as a God-given burden for souls. There is such a thing as praying through on a promise. There is such a thing as fighting it out in the secret place. There is such a thing as praying someone under God's convicting power. But....how is it done? When you hear stories of a mother/father/husband/wife praying through for their loved one, do you automatically think of that saint as being a stressed-out, depressed person? No. That would not accomplish anything but trouble for either party. Why even bother the prayer if we don't think God has the power to change the heart and desire of man? The effectual, fervant prayer of a righteous man availeth much, but it's effectual only if it's shared--with God. His yoke truly is easy and his burden is light. It's still work, but there is someone pulling with you, making it easy, encouraging you every step of the way. Giving you promises to claim and faith to claim them.

"My strength is made perfect in your weakness," He says, as we strain under our burden.

Whatever the burden, it might indeed get worse, but know this-God is faithful. And while we change and make mistakes, He does not. When we get weaker, He is ever stronger.

Sources: Me, Greg Lucas, my husband, God.