Share the Weight: Life Lessons
I have come to realize that fear and worry are different. Worry stems from fear. If we are not already afraid of something, we are not going to worry about it. What is scary is the fact that fear can hold a person back from reaching their full potential and being who they want to be. I have days where I have found myself smiling and feeling unconditionally happy, thinking, "Nothing can bring me down." I have to catch myself when I realize that a thousand things could bring me down. "But none of them are happening right now." And that's what we need to remember. Sure, there are so many things that COULD go wrong, but that doesn't mean they will. If we live in fear, we will look back and wish we could have just been happy.
For all of you who have ever felt completely broken, I want to let you know that you are not alone. Even the people who seem to be the happiest people in the world break down and cry and have days where they feel their heart is being torn apart and stomped on. We've all had days where we have cried with everything we have and wanted the pain to go away, but life is full of trials. We must learn to pick ourselves up after being pushed down and kicked when we try to get up.
There are times when other people need help getting up when we can't even pick ourselves up, and this is the real test. How could we possibly help lift someone else up when we've been dragging ourselves along the path of life, trying to get back up on our feet, never getting past the point of being on our knees? But on our knees we have an unknown strength. We can pray. And with this newfound strength, we can help others even when we can't even help ourselves.
Too many times, we try to help ourselves and keep our troubles and worries locked away from the world, thinking we can beat them on our own. Until the truth sets in. Pretty soon, you get tired of beating yourself up and being hurt and alone. You need to remember that there are people who care about you and love you. They want to help you. And God always has your back. Not only does He love you and see your pain, He has felt it Himself. Jesus came to Earth for us, knowing that He would be judged, whipped, made fun of, spit on, and murdered. Knowing this, He still came here for US. And when the time came for Him to be killed, He let Himself be killed. People told Him to save Himself if He was the Son of God. Guess what? He accepted His death along with the mockery. If that was me and I knew I could save myself (I would have already) I would do it in that moment just to spite those people and prove them wrong. But Jesus is wholly (and holy) good and accepted His death for US because He loves US. He died for the very people who killed Him.
We may always have physical ailments, fears, loss, and things that hold us back, but God is here for us. When we cry, God just might be crying with us. Sometimes we may feel like God doesn't know, He doesn't care or He isn't doing anything to help us. Think again. God knows all. And He loves YOU. He knows everything, and He cares about YOU. He always hears our prayers, and although we don't always get the answer we ask for, we do get an answer. Sometimes we have to be patient and wait for His answer or wait for what He has planned to pan out, but God will never forsake us.
We all have things that weigh us down: guilt, fear, shame, embarrassment, pain, stress, regret. When the weight is too much to carry on your own, that is when you should fall to your knees and pray. God hears your prayers. "'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I shall cure you.'" 2 Kings 20:5 Sometimes, we think our life is so bad we would rather have what we might consider an 'easy' trial or an 'easy' cross to carry that someone else has. You never know how a cross can be to carry until you carry it yourself. And while you may be strong enough to carry that person's cross, they might not be. That particular cross may weigh them down and have them crying out to God with every step they make. “'If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'" Luke 9: 23-24 Remember that when you have to carry a cross, Jesus did the same and will not leave you when you need Him the most. Also keep in mind that Jesus had Simon to help Him part of the time when He was on His way to be crucified. It's okay to get help and great to help others. Always know that God sees, and He knows your heart.
Lastly, remember not to be judgmental. Everyone makes mistakes and does things they regret. Everyone has their own failings. We may think a person is too self-righteous or uncaring to regret what they do. Think again. Just because you don't see their tears or see their struggle doesn't mean you know their life or their story. Everyone has a story. "'Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.'" Matthew 7: 3-5 Here are some lyrics to help us remember that everyone has a story:
We by Joy Williams
"She's independent and beautiful Wish I could be like her She's got the girls and the boys So wrapped around her finger Rumor is she's some kind of dream Nobody knows she cries herself to sleep We are not that different from each other We just want somebody to discover Who we really are when we drop our guard That love has gotta start with you and me We He's on the top of the social scene He's stylish cool and clever He's got a cool attitude that screams He's got it all together You'd think he's addicted to himself But he wishes he could be someone else We are not that different from each other We just want somebody to discover Who we really are when we drop our guard That love has gotta start with you and me We've gotta come together Oh You know you never ever have to be alone You've got a hand to hold" Here are some Christian songs that may bring healing to your hurting heart: Hurricane by Natalie Grant Steady My Heart by Kari Jobe Pray by Sanctus Real Carry Me by Josh Wilson Strong Enough by Matthew West Even If by Kutless The Hurt and the Healer by MercyMe Busted Heart by For King and Country Rise by Colton Dixon Restore by Chris August Carry Me by Mark Schultz Fall Apart by Josh Wilson Your Love is Like a River by Third Day Miracle by Third Day Light Up the Sky by The Afters You Lift Me Up by The Afters You Are Loved by Josh Groben I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me There Will be a Day by Jeremy Camp What Love Really Means by JJ Heller Love Does by Brandon Heath Jesus in Disguise by Brandon Heath
