Bearing Burdens
by Gemma Gardner
I have just had a few days away from home, visiting the town where I used to live fifteen years ago before I got married. I hadn’t been back there for three years, so it was good to go and catch up with old friends.
I travelled there by train and had to change trains at two different stations. I knew that I would need help, and so I booked for personal assistance beforehand. Both the journeys there and back home went smoothly. On the journey home, I had a twenty-minute wait for my next train. So the assistant took me to a waiting area and said she would come back and collect me when the next train was due. I knew that the train was going to come in ten minutes before it set off again, so I was quite happy to be left.
My luggage consisted of one small suitcase and a rucksack, which I had on my back. I’d been sitting on the seat for a while when I suddenly realised that the rucksack was still on my back, and I had no need to be holding it there. It could be put down until the assistant came back.
Sometimes in our lives we may have times of waiting for the Lord to show us the way ahead. We can wait patiently, expecting the Lord to answer, or we can wait anxiously, fearing what will happen next. Jesus wants us to be able to rest in Him and let Him carry our burdens. God promises that He’ll take care of us, and Jesus invites us to come to Him, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
I was anxious about my journey and had to keep bringing my fears to the Lord. When I was nearly at the final station, I couldn’t find my suitcase, and I panicked. But the Lord took care of me, and another passenger searched the carriage until she found my case, just a few minutes before I had to leave the train. How thankful I was. Yes, the Lord is interested in the tiniest details of our lives.
Prayer: Father, I want to thank You for being a Father to me, and that You’re right there beside me wherever I go. I thank You that You’re interested in the tiniest detail of our daily lives, and that there’s no problem, big or small, that You can’t handle. I pray that I may learn to trust You more with everything that concerns me, and that I’ll learn to cast my burdens on You. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Gemma Gardner lives in Norfolk with her husband, Dean, who until recently worked at Ellel Grange. They are both part of the Associate Ministry team which Gemma joined after completing the Modular school. Gemma has experienced the Lord`s healing and restoration over many years and longs to see Him healing other broken people. Gemma loves listening to music, cooking, knitting and crochet as well as outdoor exercise. She enjoys playing guitar and singing worship songs.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
