I am a pack mule.

Okay, I’m not really; however, if you’ve seen me in action it is likely you would agree that (all too often) I carry way more than I ought. And I like it almost as if it’s an Olympic event, I load myself up with as many bags, children, boxes, whatever really and carry it as to avoid taking more trips.

But this morning I was caught off guard by the unexpected weight of a load. 

On the way out to the (way too) early morning bus run, my eldest realized he’d left something inside. He had three minutes before the bus would pull up, but he’s pretty speedy so he ran home for the forgotten item. Not before passing me his backpack.

I almost fell over from the unexpected weight.

Turning it to my shoulder I quickly realized how much weight we carry. Not weight in pounds but in burdens, responsibilities, expectations, disappointments, desires, worries, pain, brokenness… The weight we carry grows heavy.

We can grow accustomed to carrying the weight, almost forgetting the immensity of the load. We can bend under the burden, slowly without realizing the taxing effects of bearing such over time. Our pace may slow, our energy sapped, unable to run any longer. The weight we carry grows heavy and bears consequence in our lives. But there is hope.

Hope of unloading the weight and being able to run.

Hope of being strengthened from within to bear the weight that cannot be borne alone.

Isaiah says:

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭28-31‬ NLT)

The weight we carry grows heavy. And the hope? Our hope comes from the Lord who never grows weary and from whom we are strengthened to carry the burdens we bear, who takes the load we never could carry, and who picks us up when we’ve fallen and enables us to fly.

That hope is ours to embrace when we “trust in the Lord.” How is God calling you to trust in Him with the weight you carry today?

~Jillene