Earlier today I climbed a mountain. A rugged huge mountain.
And with the weight of the world on my shoulders.
It felt like my hikers were too small, my backpack was too heavy and that I couldn’t catch my breath. I couldn’t get enough air, so I was stumbling along the precarious path.
Grief, pain and loss were the burdens I carried in my backpack.
I felt exhausted, overwhelmed and sad. Trying to carry the weight of these emotions can leave a person limping instead of running.
The truth is, it’s a beautiful sunny summer day (my favorite kind) and I never left my yard. My husband and I enjoyed a kayak on the river near our home, that’s true, but I didn’t climb a mountain.
It just felt like I did.
I made lunch, mowed the lawn, sat on the deck with sunshine laying across the flowerbeds and wrote a letter to my wandering son.
Sunday is the day I write to him – hope and normalcy inked on a page.
Carrying the weight of aching loss can make easy things, even easy enjoyable things, feel heavy or tiring. Maybe in the deepest part of your being you know what I’m talking about.
The ache may be different for you, but you KNOW.
Some days grief sits in my chest – like a rude intruder- and won’t back down.
Even on warm sunny days that I love and feel amazing.
But Jesus – Beautiful Healer – He says “Come, rest a while.” He kindly offers to take my heavy, burden-filled backpack.
He gently offers to carry all my afflictions.
“He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will
deliver him and honor him.” – Psalm 91:15
I want to let go of it, and let Him take over.
And to let go of the feeling that I have to carry the weight, alone.
So with the warm healing sunshine on my shoulders I hand the heavy backpack over to Him. I feel His love and sense His tender heart towards me as I do.
It’s not too much or too burdensome for Him. He is my strength for today, and the One I can lean on.
In the giving, I feel the weight lifted and I begin to breathe easier. I feel lighter that I don’t have to carry the cares and grief alone. I can rest in Him, the Beautiful Healer.
I smile and place my hand in His, and He leads me along the path to healing. I follow Him, trust Him, and lean on His unfailing kindness and mercy.
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with
his hand. – Psalm 32:23-24
He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will
deliver him and honor him. – Psalm 91:15
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