The words before me are familiar and comforting …
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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, NASB)
We all have burdens, problems, heavy circumstances that weigh us down. They land on us at times, causing us to feel like a tree branch bowing from the pressure of excess rain or snow.
And it can by anything really from relationships to finances; from health challenges to weekly food shopping; from loneliness to lack of time alone.
But today the verse fell differently, a new weight was revealed – the weight of sin.
“And because of the tender love which our good Lord has for all who will be saved, he comforts readily and sweetly, meaning this: It is true that sin is the cause of all this pain, but all will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of thing will be well. These words were revealed most tenderly, showing no kind of blame to me or to anyone who will be saved. So I saw how Christ has compassion on us because of sin.”
(from 4–Day Journey with Julian of Norwich, Lisa E. Dahill, Editor, page 44)
Often the pain of sin lingers long after we have been forgiven. The shame, the knowledge of the sin, not forgiving ourselves all hangs on like a reminder of what has done. Over the course of time, the enemy brings it to mind so often, it becomes our identity.
Matthew reminds us of how wearying and heavy it is to keep on carrying it. May we be merciful to ourselves and to others, to encourage them to release it to the Lord. Let the Lord lift it off of them and us.
May we remember Christ came, and died, and rose again so that we could come near to Him.
“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.”
(Psalm 65:4, NASB)
“Lay your burden down, lay your burden down.
Take your burden to the Cross, and lay it down.”
This post should also bring encouragement to come to the Lord and lay your burdens down. Lisa Blair reminds us that God responds to those who treasure Him. As we draw near to Him, He draws even nearer to us. Read her post, Realize This Unparalleled Truth, HERE.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Image by Free Photos from Pixabay
Today I may be joining …
Thank you, Joanne. I hear the words “even this, even this†in your reminder that Jesus has borne the weight of ALL our sin.
Yes, and Amen! “Even this” … every last sin nailed to the Cross.
It is so important, Joanne, to lay our burdens down (and not pick them up again!), and at the same time, release other people when they express their humanity in non-edifying ways. We must extend ourselves and others’ grace as we walk this journey of transformation into His image. And thanks for the post highlight!
I believe our burdens are invitations to come to Him. I love His promise of receiving rest for our souls when we do come and lay our burdens down.
I don’t know why, but I need to continually be reminded of this. You’d think I’d have it down by now. 🙂 I’m so thankful we can lay any burden down before Him, especially that of our sin.
I’m so so thankful for the Lord’s compassion! We need it so.
Love the song you shared. I haven’t heard it before.
Thank you, Joanne for this beautiful post reminding me to lay down my burden. Like so many others I struggle with this too, laying it down, and picking it back up! Oh what a kind, compassionate God who invites us into that place of freedom!
Thanks for hosting, Joanne, and for reminding us that we don’t need to carry the burden of our sin. That it truly was done away with at the cross.
His mercy is new every morning! Thank you for this reminder that we are fully to accept His grace. Living “heavy” is not good for ourselves, and dulls our light.
Beautiful piece, Joanna. Love your insight here on how sin, and the shame associated with it, is a burden we were never meant to carry. Christine Caine notes the phrase “Shame on you!†becomes “Shame off you!†When we are in Christ!
Amen, Joanne. So thankful I can lay my cares at his feet. I’ve got to tell you God has been using so many of you to touch my soul. I’ve read quite a few messages that were like you all were talking directly to me this week.
Joanne, I’ve read the “all will be well†quote by Julian of Norwich but never in its full context about sin. What a comfort to remember that when Jesus takes the burden of our sin, we don’t have to carry it ever again.
I keep pulling my burden back – or maybe it’s Satan – and he hands it back to me and I take it without thinking. Thank you for this reminder to stop. I’m carrying this thought with me into the week – not going to let the little foxes ruin the vine the Father is growing!