My toddlers have a knack for wanting to pick up large heavy objects.  Why they have an obsession with trying to pick up gallon jugs of water is beyond me… The other day my one year old picked up a box full of toys that was three-quarters her size.  She toddled over to me, handling it well at first.  But then she started to scream!  It was getting way too heavy, but she didn’t want to let it go.  Immediately I rushed to her aid and said, “Sweetheart, what are you doing?  This is way too heavy for you to carry on your own!”

Before I could finish my own sentence, God whispered the same to me.  Wow.  He was right.  I had been shouldering the weight of many things that were far too heavy for me.  Responsibilities, worries, and fears that were too much for me to handle on my own.  I thought of how I wanted to help my daughter out of compassion.  It hurt me to see her needlessly struggling to carry her load, when I could carry it for her with ease.  Then my thoughts turned to our heavenly Father who desires to bear our burdens in the same way.

Why wouldn’t I hand over my own burdensome load to the only one who can carry it with ease?  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” He can handle your load no matter what the weight!  May the words of this old hymn minister to your heart as you release your cares into the hands of the One who cares for you (I Peter 5:7).

I must tell Jesus all of my trials.
I cannot bear these burdens alone.
In my distress he kindly will help me.
He ever loves and cares for his own.

I must tell Jesus.  I must tell Jesus.
I cannot bear my burdens alone.
I must tell Jesus.  I must tell Jesus.
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

(Elisha A. Hoffman)