What’s Weighing You Down?

We all carry a certain measure of weight. The weight of sin, the weight of perfectionism, the weight of unforgiveness, the weight of shame, and the list goes on. We, as believers, are called to avoid being weighed down by things that might hinder our spiritual journey, even if they aren’t sinful. There are things that weigh us down such as buying a new home, getting married, having a new baby, moving to a different state, being diagnosed with a disease… none of those are a sin, but they can weigh us down at times. A heavy weight I hear about is more anxiety in the world today. Anxiety itself is not a sin; but, if you focus on it instead of on God, then it becomes a sin.

I feel like I’m not carrying much but after going through a list of things that cause weight, I think I’m carrying more than I should be. I have had the weight of moving to a new state. I have had the weight of selling and buying a new home. I have had the weight of my grandchild being diagnosed with cancer. I have had the weight of finding a new church. When I say I’m carrying more than I should be, I mean, I should be able to give some of those weights to the Lord to help me carry them. I was not created to carry more weight than I can handle alone.

I can think of smaller weights that I’ve been carrying around in my life also. I think I’ve been carrying some for so long that I think it’s “normal”. It’s like when you’re sick. You go get treatment. Then when you’re well, you realize you forgot what it felt like to feel good. You had changed your focus to a new “normal”. I need to go to God and get my “treatment” so I will remember what it’s like to only carry the weights He’s asked me to. I don’t want to pick up more weight than He has required of me.

The more weight we are carrying, the harder it is to walk. Hebrews 12 says to “lay aside every weight” and “run with endurance the race.” We can’t run with endurance if we’re carrying too much weight.

My “normal” should align with what and how much God wants me to carry. I’ve adjusted to my new load as normal, but I still need to take some of the weight off. How do I do that? I give some of it to God. He wants to help carry my load. Not only does He want to help carry my load, but sometimes he wants to pick me up and put me on His shoulders and walk with my load, for me while I am with Him. Galatians 6:2 says Jesus wants us to carry one another’s burdens. He’s the first to jump in and offer to carry our burdens.

“Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest….my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30