(This post was originally posted in 2018 but I thought it was appropriate, given the circumstances in our world today, to repost it. I pray it brings encouragement and hope to your soul today!)
Heavy Laden
I woke up in the middle of the night a few nights ago with this word in my head.
The only place I’ve ever read that word in is Matthew 11:28. Usually, when I read this verse, I envision “heavy laden” to be more of an action. Something that is the opposite of chasing after Christ.
Tonight, heavy-laden took on a whole new meaning in my soul.
There aren’t a bunch of plates spinning in my life. I haven’t taken on too many projects. I’m not exhausted. I’m not sick. Christ feels near.
Yet heavy-laden was the only word to describe my state of being at 2 am.
Heavy-lady = burdened/oppressed/weighed down
In a few days, a friend is going to bury her 2-year old who 2 weeks ago was a vibrant and healthy young girl. Heavy-laden.
In addition, currently, I am helping a young mom with her 2-year-old. The joy of having her in our home followed by the pain of taking her back to less than ideal living situations does a number on the emotions. Watching injustice and not being able to protect the innocent breaks my family’s heart a little every time we witness it. Heavy-laden.
There’s a reason Matthew 11:28 was put in the Bible.
“Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest”.
There are seasons in life where no matter how hard you try, you cannot change or fix the circumstances around you. Certain seasons simply feel heavy-laden.
God knew before the beginning of time how helpless we would feel when we get surrounded by the brokenness in the world. He knew we would all experience spiritual weariness as we walked through life. I can’t help but believe this passage in Matthew was one of his ways of reminding us He is God. We don’t have to be.
His invitation to our spiritual weariness isn’t advice on how to fix it or even how to understand it.
His solution is to simply come to Him and let Him be God. He invites us to practice trusting Him. When we stop trying to be God but teach ourselves how to rely on God instead, we can experience His goodness even in the midst of brokenness.
This week, when the brokenness surrounds me, we mourn the death of a child, and my kids look at me with tears in their eyes begging me to fix a situation I have no control over, our household is going to practice taking God at his word and accepting his invitation to “come to me”.
*
For more ideas on how to walk through the seasons where you are spiritually weary, check out:
Waiting on God in the Midst of His Silence
Kari, my family and so are familiar with this heaviness. After we buried Marianna and and Rick was on a ventilator ,because of that heart attack, Brent said, “There’s no protocol for what you’re going through. Be kind to yourself and if you want some chocolate, have some.” He also led us into worship which was the turning point for our situation. Worship is best weapon against the spiritual warfare that surrounds such heaviness and brokeness. My heart is with you as you support that young mama through the impossible. I pray God gives you the tenderness and comforting hands she’ll need.
Thank you Rubi! Going to go put some worship music on right now. Such a great reminder and advice!
I needed this. I’ve had such a hard week (the same family who lost their little girl) and weekend (my own physical and mental burdens). It’s so easy to forget how to rest in God when you get consumed by the world around you. Reminders like this are needed in times when we know we need to hear it, and even in times when we think we’re doing well. We never have it too good in life when we don’t need this reminder. I’m so thankful how God inspires you and that you share it with us all.
Thanks Lindsay! Its going to be a hard week for all of us as we grieve alongside our friends AND support them and let them mourn, grieve, celebrate, and weep. Already praying over Tuesday and Wednesday and the intensity of the emotions that are going to be felt over these next few days. Thanks for your encouragement and comment!
A good world I needed to read today as I feel broken and heavy over the loss of children and inability to protect them.