Recently I went on several long trips and each time, somewhere along the way, we passed a trailer with a wide or heavy load followed by a vehicle that alerted other drivers with a large sign saying Heavy Load. Transporting half a double-wide mobile home or any other overweight or over dimensional load takes up a lot of space and it can be dangerous.

Knowing how to deal with the challenges of such a transport is crucial. This is true in the natural but also in the spiritual realm. As I thought about it I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to write down some thoughts. The first thing I noticed is the escort car or the pilot car as it is also called. Just as the driver pulling an extra heavy load depends on that pilot car so we believers depend on God’s help to guide us and help us.

It made me think of an old song called Jesus, Pilot Me.
Here is the first verse of that hymn:
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal.
Chart and compass came from thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

How wonderful it is to feel God’s everlasting arms underneath us, knowing that He carries us along, safely and securely to our desired destination.

Jesus also gave us a promise in the New Testament.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. NIV

Just as there are different kinds of loads being transported on the roadways there are different kinds of burdens. Some are due to life’s situations such as a major move, an illness, the loss of a loved one, divorce or broken relationships and more too numerous to name.
Some burdens are self-inflicted and the Bible warns us in the following scripture to guard our hearts. God does not want us to carry these kinds of burdens.

Luke 21:34 “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; NASB

Some burdens are given to us by God Himself. As we pray and intercede for others we feel their pain and heartache and in prayer we help carry those burdens to the cross.

Galatians 6:2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. NIV

When we are carrying a heavy load, we are not meant to do it alone. We need help and we should humbly ask for and accept the help offered to us. If you are carrying a burden today, go to the Lord with it, really open up your heart and share it with Him. If He so leads, you may also need to share it with a brother or a sister. You will find that the heavy load all of a sudden is much easier to bear.

A note about the sunflower photo:  The sun flower signifies the heavy burden that it is carrying – but within the burden and through the intercession are much seeds. From that one plant carrying such a heavy load – thousands of new sun flowers will be. What a dynamic and amazing picture of carrying a heavy load of intercession. We may not always get to see the outcome – however, if we yield to the Lord when that heaviness comes upon us and do whatever it is that He is asking us – share, pray, intercede, declare, decree, testify – the outcome of that obedience only comes from first lifting our faces and voices unto the Lord – just like the sun flower and the impact is more than we could ever imagine. Just as the sun flower’s heavy load of seed.  Love Beyond Measure. Beth..