I regularly recite the "Comfortable Words" of Jesus, "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." (Matthew 11:28-30) Sometimes the burdens we bear are too much for us. Jesus invites us to come to him and in so doing, find rest. Those who do also find there are some burdens we cannot carry and there are some burdens we should not carry.
In exchange for our burdens, Jesus offers us his burden of love for all of Creation. And Jesus' burden is light. He is yoked for works of love, but his yoke is easy. I think it is an offer that all should consider. In my opinion, it is a great deal!
The same principle needs to be at work in the church and community as well. Paul's letter to the Galatians (6:2 and 5) exhorts to "carry each other's burdens" when there is just too much weight or trouble for one who is close to us. And to ensure that others are not loading us up with things that they need to be dealing with themselves, the exhortation comes, "each one should carry their own load."
I understand there are some things that we just need to get on with, even if difficult. Whatever your situation, you will find soul rest in the gentle and humble one, Jesus.
