Lay Down Your Burdens

Philosophy view of burden

Something that is carried a load, typically a heavy one

Something oppressive or worrisome

The refrain of a chorus or song

The bearing of a load, usually used in the phrase beast of burden

Biblical view of burden

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalms 55:22 KJV

“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 KJV

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 KJV

We have all gone through challenges in our lives for the most part that eventually starts feeling like a burden to us. Personally I have had my share, one being I was abandoned by my mother. I felt angry and became very resentful but as time went by and I grew up I started asking God to help bring about a change in me toward her which helped me to start processing differently. The Lord eventually answered my prayers and I was able to forgive and forget. The experience however made me a better person and brought about a complete change in me and I was able to let go.

I found myself started being more affectionate and protective towards her. As we grew closer I realized how much I have grown to love her, I came to understand how this burden has had a dramatic effect on both of our lives.

Matthew 11:28-30 made a profound statement and the scripture reminds us that we don’t need to bear our burdens alone, that we should cast all our burden on Jesus because he is our burden bearer and he cares for us, What a blessing! We can find many reminders in Scriptures regarding casting our burdens on Jesus, what a comfort because He keeps all His promises.

Stress usually has a negative impact on our bodies and can be caused by a build-up of small pressures, if this is the case it might make it harder for you to identify exactly what exactly is making you feel stressed, or to explain it to other people. When the human body is stressed or feeling burden, the muscles tense up. Muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stress—the body’s way of guarding against injury and pain. With sudden onset of stress, the muscles tense up all at once, and then releases their tension when the stress passes. What great joy and peace we have when we understand Jesus is always there to help us through whatever burdens we carry because He cares so much for us!

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

2nd Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV

One song writer echoes that we should “Cast our burdens on Jesus for He cares for us” Every time I am feeling cast down, I think on this song and it still continues to give me great reassurance.

According to the Bible Aaron and his sons have made an end covering, the task was to ensure all the vessels of the Sanctuary are covered, as the camp set forward on their journey. There was specific instruction given to the sons of Kohath to bear it, but they shall not touch any holy thing, less they die. These things were the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Sometimes God gives us specific instructions or task about something we should not do, but because of our unwillingness or wanting to do things our own way, we end up with a lot of unnecessary burdens after which we want God’s divine intervention. Here is a good demonstration in Numbers 4:15

“After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting. Numbers 4:15 NIV

Conclusion

Burden is not an easy load to carry, there are many different ways to lighten our burdens, but the most reliable person is Jesus He will never fail you or turn you way, so let us be obedient. According to Myles Munroe he echoes that “The Burden of Freedom explains that too many people use past oppression to remain mired in hatred and irresponsibility today.”

The spirit of oppression has specific tell-tale effects on individuals, communities, and nations. He also highlighted that there is a hatred for work, laziness, fear, low self-esteem, selfishness, lack of creativity, low initiative, these are mainly some of what can cause us to be burdened down when we are walking in the flesh and not in the spirit.

We have to see ourselves as an ambassador for Christ to break free from these self-replicating cycles of oppression, there must be a mental transformation., The Burden Of Freedom is available to all believers who are in Christ Jesus. Like the bible says let us cast all our Cares on Jesus because he does cares for us.