My purse seemed extra heavy when I got home at the end of the day. It was filled with all the usual things so I thought I was imagining the weight — until I pulled out my wallet.
The section for coins bulged so much that the seams along the zipper strained. I dumped all the coins on the table and could see — and feel — an immediate difference in my wallet.
Adding a few coins here and a few coins there didn’t seem like much. But over time they turned into a heavy load without my realizing it.
The same thing can be true in life.
We worry about this thing or we hold onto that grudge. We take on responsibilities that shouldn’t necessarily be ours. We shove our feelings aside instead of having what might be a difficult conversation.
And all the while, the weight of these things accumulates without us realizing it. We get so good at filling our time and pushing through the day that we might not know we’re being weighed down.
Until we reach the point of the coin section in my wallet — stretched, strained, and about to burst at the seams.
The beauty is, we don’t have to live life that way. We don’t have to carry one thing after another after another with no relief in sight.
People can help us.
Programs can help us.
Prayer can help us.
The Bible teaches us to help carry each other’s burdens and to pray for and encourage each other. There are people who would love to help, who would be honored to know you trust them enough to ask.
Here are a few things the Bible says about helping encourage and support other people:
- Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 NIV)
- But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13 NIV)
- And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)
- Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)
- I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. (1 Timothy 2:1 NIV)
Even if we aren’t ready to talk with other people about what’s weighing us down, we can always tell God. He knows what we’re thinking and what we’re going through, so nothing we say surprises Him. And, best of all, He knows why these things are happening and He knows how things will work out in the end.
Stress is real. Strain is real. Worry is real.
But our God is also real and is ready to hear us and help us.
When the weight of the world seems too much, He — and the people He puts around us — can give us the help and hope we need to keep our seams from bursting. We just have to ask.
Your turn: How has someone helped you keep going when you felt weighed down or too stretched? Leave a comment to help encourage someone else.
Sometimes we carry heavy loads without realizing it. But we don’t have to live life stretched, strained, and about to burst at the seams. #encouragement #wordsofhope Click To Tweet
We sometimes forget how helpful it is for us to reach out to others and accept their feedback. God gave us each other for encouragement and comfort as the Scriptures you share tell us. We were not designed to live life alone. Thanks for sharing this uplifting post, Leigh. Blessings, my friend.
Yes, Barbara, you’re so right. God didn’t design us to carry things alone, no matter how capable we might think we are. He can help keep us from bursting at the seams, and so can other people he puts in our lives. We just have to let them. Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings, my friend.
Love this post Ms. Leigh. I learned some years ago that I have a “grenade” personality, in that I can let things slide but they build up in my life to the point that I suddenly explode in an indiscriminate way that tends to affect everyone around me. To control that personality flaw/trait, I’ve learned that instead of bottling it all up, I can safely let it all out by sharing my frustrations, anger, and rage at God. He’s more than capable of handling it, and in return He fills me with His peace where all that bad stuff once resided. Peace is much lighter by the way. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this wonderful post with us. God’s blessings.
Thanks for reading and sharing, JD. I think many of us can relate to a “grenade” personality — I’ve definitely had my times with it. And you’ve reminded us of the best safety valve of all — God Himself. But you’re right, He can handle it and replace it with something so much better in us. Peace is much lighter. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving, wise sir.
This is such a great analogy, Leigh. I love it when we can take simple occurences and learn a life lesson. And it’s even better when shared. Thank you! Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.
Thank you, Katherine! I know you also share about times when you see God in nature or everyday things and enjoy reading your insights. Isn’t it amazing how God is in every little part of our lives, just waiting to be seen? Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!