Bearing Burdens
Why is helping people becoming more difficult? This is a question I seem to ask myself daily. One might surmise that fewer folks are interested in getting help. Another view might be that with an
increase in need, more families are “falling through the cracks”. We could also look to the dramatic polarization that we seem to be witnessing in so many aspects of society as a whole. While I believe these statements contribute to an increase difficulty in helping people, I want to focus more on the “helpers”.
We all, to some degree, are helpers. Now the manner in which I describe a helper is simply someone that is available to another in their time of need. Through our willingness to help we should build relationships with those in which we help. Once this relationship has been established and needs have been met, the world and society can be changed in enormous and eternal ways. The idea or concept of a helper is intricately interwoven throughout Scripture. The Hebrew word for helper is “ezer” (pronounced “ay-zer”) which speaks of God’s strength, power, protection and being a rescuer.
It is vital to understand no matter your role you can be an eternal “rescuer”. You might be reading this as a stay-at-home mother, a construction worker, a landscaper or as a retiree (to name a few) and wonder how this applies to you. I want to say to you no matter how you see yourself, God has a grand purpose for your existence. Please pursue what God has for you with all your being, He will use you to bless others. God will use your time, talents and treasures to be a blessing to others.
It is also important to see ourselves as ones that need help. At different times we all need a rescuer. We must remember that our Heavenly Father is the ultimate Healer and Rescuer but He uses us to be His hands and feet. In Galatians 6, Paul talks about the concept of “bearing one another’s burdens”. Paul instructs the Galatians (and us) to bear each other’s burdens so that the law of Christ can be fulfilled. What a great responsibility and honor to serve God through the burdens we all face together! Paul never told us that this “burden bearing” would be easy.
Thankfully, we also learn throughout scripture that we are to cast our burdens, our anxieties and our worries on Him. The way I like to think about the burdens I see and experience is that I should
transfer those burdens to my heavenly Father so that He can use me in these situations. I am afraid too many times we remember we should bear one another’s burdens but we forget to give those burdens to God and failing to do so is a sure recipe for burnout.
Do you see yourself as a helper in light of the definition shared above? Take a moment and ponder how often you help someone on any given day, week, month or year. I would suggest you are more of a helper than you ever thought possible! Also, check your heart and see if you are becoming overwhelmed with the weight of your responsibility as a helper, if so reach out to us, we would love to help!
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, He will support you! God will never let the righteous be shaken!
