With sudden changes in life and increasing uncertainty about our work environments, social interactions, and day-to-day tasks, stress can mound into a heavy boulder on our shoulders. Even as Christians, we still have burdens and heavy loads we carry throughout each day.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. - Galatians 6:2-5
this verse tells us to help carry one another's burdens, these are the things that are too heavy for one person to bear such as grief, we are to share these and help ease the weight. While we each are to carry our own load, which are things that we deal with or that God gives us that we can handle with the Holy Spirit's power.
Why do we carry burden's on our own that only harm us and end up crippling us? We think that others don't want to hear our problems since they have problems of their own. Or we feel embarrassed or ashamed because we are supposed to live life with a smile on our faces at all times and bring others encouragement and happiness. All this does to us is add more weight to our already unbearable burdens. If we trust more in God's Word and listen to His guidance then we would live life more freely and with more strength than we do now. We harm ourselves way more than we think by carrying burdens we were never meant to carry alone.
When we carry these heavy weights, we are slowing our pace in the race we are running, we lose energy quickly, get irritated, depressed, and exhausted easily. The Bible tells us to not grow weary while doing good, one important way to not grow weary is to lessen the baggage we are carrying with us. (Galatians 6:9). Some burdens need to be let go of altogether, through forgiving and forgetting it. Other burdens need to be shared with believers we trust, who will, in turn, share theirs and together provide the strength and comfort needed to carry them appropriately. Finally, to rid ourselves of these boulders, we need to lay them at Jesus' feet, leave them there, and pick up God's yoke to gain wisdom and rest.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:9-10
Come to Me, all you 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
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be shaken. - Psalm 55:22
This world is full of stresses, burdens, and worry and it is the devil's aim to distract you from the race your running, from your purpose, to focus on the stress, carry burdens, and stay in a state of worry/fear. Don't let the devil cause you more pain, don't let him warp your shoulders to bend over, keep your eyes on the prize, keep your shoulders firm and head held high! Stand with Jesus, hand in hand with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ so the race is not burdensome or bitter but full of freedom and victory! Fight the good fight together!
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. - Galatians 6:7
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. - 1 John 5:3-4
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2
Need to be reminded of this often!