Bearing the Burden

So, as I've been limping along through depression and confusion, I've often been unaware of the prayer support of many, many people. But once in a while, someone says, "I'm still praying for you and your family", and it actually surprises me a little.

"Me? You're praying for me? You still remember us? Wow!"

I've been so blessed by people who are so persistent and persevering in prayer for Al's complete healing and for our family's well-being.

Recently, some friends of ours offered to come over and pray with us. We belong to a great Christian prayer community, and we often pray bold prayers of faith, with and for each other, while laying hands on one another. So, when these friends offered to come over and pray, I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. I was also very grateful. They came and talked with us, encouraged us, and prayed with us. And when they prayed, I felt a very tangible lifting of the burden I'd been carrying. I just realized that these friends were not just stopping by to do their good deed for the day and then move on; they were there to carry the burden with us.

God lightened my eyes to 2 things through this experience. One was that which I just described. I hadn't been letting others help me carry my burden. I had been trying to carry it all myself and I was being crushed under the weight of it.

The other thing God reminded me of was Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.” I was completely forgetting to let God help me carry my burden; even more to let Him carry it for me.

Now that I've had some time to recuperate and get my mind back a little bit, I realize how much, once again, how much I really need the Lord, and how much I need my brothers and sisters in Christ.