STICKY BURDENS!

 

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

 

STICKY BURDENS!

 

Ps 55:22

22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

          Releasing our burdens to the care and workings of God is not easy even for the experienced believer. Maybe we think we have it figured out and do not “need” God right now. Maybe the situation seems impossible, and we doubt God. Of course, we would never admit that we doubt God. Our focus is on the size of our problem instead of the size of our God.

 

          The Old Testament form of “cast” is the Hebrew shalak which literally means “to throw out, down, or away”. It is physical. The New Testament is from the Greek epirrhipto which means “to throw upon.” Both urge us to release our burdens to One much more capable of handling them.

 

          The word “burden” in the Old Testament is yehab and it means “what is given.” Nobody likes to think of a burden as a gift but there it is. The New Testament word for “care” is merimna and has the idea of a distraction. It is that which causes us to lose focus. It keeps us from accomplishing our goals. It invades all our thoughts.

 

          My burdens and cares seem to be coated with a peculiar sticky substance that keeps me from completely releasing it. For that there is the oil of the Holy Spirit.

 

Matt 6:33-34

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 

Dear Lord, I awoke with the burdens of yesterday and I know there will be new issues today. Help me not to add the possibilities of tomorrow. Give me the grace to cast them away. Amen