The Weight of the World

I began crying this morning for no apparent reason.  Nothing (else) had happened.  I was just sitting and reading emails when the tears began to flow.  What I was reading was nothing emotional, certainly nothing that should have made me cry.

My first thought was, “What in the world … why on earth am I crying?”

And then it hit me.  “What in the world” is exactly why I was crying.  The weight of the world that I was carrying … it could no longer be contained and began to spill over through my tears. 

Everything that my family has been through the last several years – one crisis after another, each one adding to the weight of the others.  Then add to that a global pandemic, economic instability, political divisiveness, racial tensions, and civil unrest.

Not to mention natural disasters.  The latest of which hit home in Texas this week – historic low temperatures combined with snow & ice resulting in mass power outages and water shortages. 

A deadly combination for some. 

For others, we survived but not without hardships and damages.  Some of the damage is already apparent, but the rest remains to be seen once things thaw out.

I’ve been trying to stay positive.  To focus on the good.  To look at what has gone right instead of what has gone wrong.  To count my blessings.

But I’ve been doing that for years now.  And the truth is, I’m exhausted. 

And sometimes, on days like today, the weight is too much to bear. Like the melting ice & snow, it all comes crashing down.

Mother Teresa has been quoted as saying, “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.  I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.”

I think a lot of us feel like that right about now.

But the thing is, God never said He wouldn’t give us more than we can handle. People are the ones who say this, often referencing a particular verse in the Bible, but the verse is taken out of context.

Here’s what the verse actually says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

First of all, this verse is talking about temptations, not trials.  Two totally different things.

Second, even in regards to temptations, it says that God will provide a way so that we can endure it.  It never says this will be of our own accord.

In this life, in this world, we will absolutely face things that we cannot handle on our own.  Otherwise, why would we need God?

But we do need God because we’re merely humans.  Humans in need of a great God.

A God who beckons us to come to Him with our burdens and our cares.  A God who can handle everything that we can’t.  A God who will take the weight of the world off our shoulders. 

But only if and when we let go and give that weight over to Him. 

Sometimes that means crying things out with God.  Sometimes it means fighting things out with God.

Sometimes it means being honest about our doubts.  Sometimes it means reaffirming our faith.

Sometimes it means taking action.  Sometimes it means being still.

But always it means going to God, seeking His face, seeking His will, seeking His peace.

For when we let the weight of the world fall from our shoulders into His capable hands, only then can we find rest for our souls.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)