By:  Betty Predmore

Do you ever feel burdened? Do you ever feel as if you are bearing those burdens alone? God did not design us to carry our burdens alone. He wants us to share our burdens with Him, so that He can walk alongside us, carrying the load. I am reminded of the teenage boy who wants to walk the girl home from school. He carries her books because it is the “expected” thing to do. That’s how it is with God. We are walking the journey side by side, yet He expects to carry our load.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
He also places others in our lives that can help carry our burdens. Often it is our family and those special friends that He gives us for just the right circumstance. Perhaps it is someone who has already walked the journey you are now on, and can share some wisdom with you. In Galatians 6:2 we are told this…”Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” This is clearly part of our obedience to Christ…to help take the heavy load from others.
Christ himself needed someone to help him carry his burden while he lived in the flesh on this earth. Think of Simon of Cyrene. This man was pulled from the crowd to help Jesus carry the cross on his journey to crucifixion at Calvary. Jesus, so weak from the beating and torture he had already endured, fell down numerous times on the road to Calvary. That cross was a heavy burden he was carrying, and he needed the assistance of Simon to make it to the end of his journey. “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.” Matthew 27:32. The bible doesn’t say that Jesus made any comment to Simon, but I have to believe that he appreciated some help with that heavy load.
Are we doing enough for others? Are we sharing their heavy load to make their road traveled just a little easier? Are we being obedient to Christ? My prayer today is that we make a sincere effort to look around us and take note of those who seem to have a heavy burden. Look for someone who might be stumbling like Jesus was on that fateful day. Do something to make their burden a little lighter. Join someone on their journey, bearing some of the load for them. Be a Simon….be a difference maker!