So why do I, and why do we, bear anything at all when His shoulders are strong enough, His hands wide enough, His arm powerful enough, His love endless enough, His grace sufficient, His mercy forever, His sacrifice on the cross ALL-encompassing, ALL-embracing, ALL-inclusive?
Why, yes why, do we carry the weight of sorrow, of grief, of hurt, of brokenness, of wounds, of scars, of cuts, of scrapes, of bruises, of our sin, of others’ violence and crimes and lashes against us, sickness, loss, emptiness, loneliness, anything at all, why do we sink, and find ourselves crushed and hopeless and discouraged and flattened on the ground, unable to take another step, another breath, another anything at all – why? Why, when He bore it ALL?
This is NOT to say that we won’t still hurt, that we won’t still suffer, that we won’t still experience hurt, and hardship, and challenge, and so much more. In fact, Jesus PROMISES us we will have tribulation. But He also PROMISES us He has overcome the world. So why do I find myself time after time crawling in the dirt, my head down, tears puddling in the dust as I cry out, cry out, cry out, help me, I can’t take this burden anymore? It’s because I forget. He not only bore it ALL. He bears it still. He bore, and bears, ALL.
And ALL I have to do, and ALL we have to do, is to reach out breathlessly, brokenly, yearning, hungry, thirsty, desperate, desirous, needy, humble, yes, humble, and take the yoke HE offers us. So that He – yes, HE – can take the weight off of us and hand us His own yoke. His own burden. Light, because He bore, and wants to bear, ours. Easy, because it is His. I am tired. I am broken. Again. But this time I remember. And so it is. I give Him the weight. I give Him the burden. And I reach out my hands to take what He hands me. His peace. His forever love. Himself.
Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (underlining and bold added for effect)
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
3 Comments
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