Sunday, June 15, 2008

What's Your Scales Say?

The weight of the world is heavy. It can be excruciating. It can be tiring. It can be overwhelming. It can be suffocating. The weight of the world was never meant for us to carry. Christ our Lord did that for us. However, that doesn't stop us humans from feeling weighed down by the ways of this world.

What does it mean the "weight of the world"?

The weight can be measured in many ways.
Financial. Relational. Occupational. Parental. Spiritual. Physical. Emotional. Material. Mental.

We take on these weights because we want to be successful in these areas, which is understandable. We want:
emotional, physical, mental health
financial freedom
spiritual growth and impact
material comfort
parental peace and accomplishments
healthy relationships
occupational peace and fulfillment

We can't help but to have concern and care for our children, family, friends, jobs, finances, health, and salvation. To have concern is to show our compassion for these things.

The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free. Deuteronomy 32:36

So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies. Nehemiah 9:27

The human life is not easy. The Christian life is not easy either (despite popular belief or rather misconception). The difference is that the Christian life has a Savior to carry our burdens....to carry us!! The Christian life very well could be more difficult in a sense but we also have a better result, a better solution, a better Provider.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Christ carried the weight of the world literally. On the Cross, He carried every single of every person that was or will ever be committed....now that's HEAVY! He still does that for us. He still carries the weight of our individual worlds. He won't take the burdens without us releasing them to Him. If we ask, He will gladly take our load. We have to GIVE it to Him to carry. If we think we are strong enough to carry it, He will let us, for a time. Only when we realize we can't and we release our clutch, then He will come in and lift the weight from our shoulders. Our shoulders were never intended to carry the "weight of this world".


The love of Christ is so deep.

Sometimes the weight of the world can deceive us.
It can cause us to lose true focus.
It can steal our joy and peace.
It can stir loneliness, depression and fear in us.

Call to me and I will answer... Jeremiah 33:3

To say that we don't or can't fall victim to being weighed down by this world is deception itself. Death, abuse, debt, abandonment, illness, job loss, loneliness, depression, housing, divorce, children, war, rejection, disloyalty...all these weigh on our spirits. They cause the reading on our scales to increase. Jesus is saying give them to Him and decrease your scales. (Now what women doesn't want to see a decrease on those nasty scales?)

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

Are you heavy and burdened? Come to Christ.

What in this world is weighing on you?

What is it that you need to lay at the foot of the Cross?

Jesus is waiting for you to deposit your weight at His Feet for Him to carry for you.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Releasing Unto Him,

29 comments:

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Paula,
You did a nice job with this post. I have had some issues that I
am giving to God because they want to weigh me down, but it is not always easy. Hope all is well with you,
Lynn

Sheryl said...

Amen, Paula! It has been such a relief to me to give God my circumstances. I can only do my part and leave the rest with HIM. What relief it brings.

Love ya,
Sheryl

Abba's Girl said...

Sometimes it is so easy to cast our cares on Him, and other times we want to cast them on Him and then take them back for a while.

Amy said...

"Sometimes the weight of the world can deceive us.
It can cause us to lose true focus.
It can steal our joy and peace.
It can stir loneliness, depression and fear in us."

These words of yours ring very true in my ears right now.
You know of the recent struggles I have had to deal with lately, and the troubles can be very deceiving.
Melissa even said during our trip that she felt like the devil was causing so many difficulties to be thrown my way, so that I would focus on my situation and not my God. She said she thinks he is trying to distract me, because he knows the good things God has promised me.....The devil wants to rob us all of our blessings.
And I must say, the devil is very good at his job. I have really struggled over this last month to keep my eyes on Jesus, not my troubles.

Thank you for sharing these encouraging words.
God Bless,
Amy:)

Unknown said...

Ah, the weight we carry? Why don't we cast our cares and burdens on Him? He's offering to carry the load. So why do we resist? I have a hard time turning some things over, but have a relatively easy time turning other things over. I wonder why I pick and choose what to give the Lord. Hmmm....

Good post, Paula!

Prayers and Blessings!
Rebecca

Lelia Chealey said...

He won't take the burdens without us releasing them to Him.


AMEN sister!!! That was so good Paula!
Love you,
Lelia

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

"Releasing unto Him"...I like that!! I am so glad you went in the direction on weight that you did. I was a little uncomfortable when I first started reading your post!! I hate the topic of weight right now.

Blessing!

In His Graces~Pamela

LynnSC said...

Wow! So true Paula. If I take my focus off of the Lord for even a small amount of time... my shoulders begin to buckle under the weight of the circumstances around me. His shoulders are so much stronger and broader than mine. He longs for us to bring Him our burdens.

Great thoughts. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Lynn

Joyfulsister said...

Hi Paula ((Hugz)) This post brings back to words of a song that says..

If he carried the weight of the world upon his shoulders, I know my sister that he will carry you, *Smile* and he sure does carry us through.

Hugz Lorie

connie said...

Paula,
I tried many years to carry all the weight that God was carring for me, I'm so glad that I know now I can give it to him and he carries it for me, thank you for sharing you are in my prayers...
Connie
GBU

Angela Baylis said...

Thank you for a beautiful post! I am convicted that I need to leave some things I've been carrying around at the foot of the cross. I feel lighter already!
Thanks so much!
Love,
Angie xoxo

Kristen said...

Paula,

John 16:33 is one of my favorite verses and I have prayed over Matthew 11:28 & 1 Peter 5:7 so many times!

I love what you said that the difference is that in a Christian's life we have a savior to carry our burdens, to carry us. It makes such a difference. I have a friend who does not have the peace that Christ can give in her life. She struggles with so much - tries to carry them herself and is crushed beneath the weight of life in this fallen world. I pray for her, and I share my faith regularly... I hope that someday she turns all those burdens over to Christ!

What freedoom it is to lay our struggles, our burdens, our strongholds at the foot of the cross!

Melanie said...

This is a great post, Paula! It IS so very easy to get caught up in all the weights of the world. Turning our burdens over to God lightens our load and puts our trust in Him.

Have a great week!

krista said...

Hi Paula,
This is a wonderful post and a great reminder that we don't need to continue carrying the weight! I have struggled to let go of some past sin, but I know becuase of the cross I am forgiven and my sin is as far as the east is to the west!

I love this whole blogging thing...I look forward to reading more!

Lisa said...

Hi Paula!
I came by to visit you after reading your comment on my blog. I, too, have alot of affection for Lelia, so I was touched when she gave me such a shout out on her blog. I think our hearts are often drawn to those we relate to in some way through this blogging thing. Isn't it cool? :)

I read some of you posts, and I can certainly see that God is the main focus of your writing. Keep on, girl! It's all...all about Him. :) We share the passion.

Are you going to SheSpeaks? If so, please introduce yourself to me there.

Lisa :)

andi said...

Thanks for a great reminder of where I am. I posted about how big God is last night. This morning I am reminded of that through your post. It is easier (NOT easy completely) to release struggles AND my "plan" to Him when I have a more accurate view of myself. On this planet where all of God's creation resides, I am SMALL, very, very SMALL. Yet, I am insignificantly significant (quoting Giglio) to the Creator. He cares for me, little ol' me.?!! I mean he keeps our solar system in orbit....why would I not trust Him with my struggles? I miss out on His peace so often. Thanks again for a Great post!
Andi

Lelia Chealey said...

Will pray for you Paula about what you left on my blog.
You are such an encourager sweet friend. Please pray as I prepare for She Speaks this weekend.
Love ya!
Lelia

Yolanda said...

When we give it to Him, and truly let Him have it....the weight becomes feather light and there lies TRUE FREEDOM.

God really keeps talking to me about freedom.

I love that song, Freedom, by Nicole C Mullen.

Blessings,
Yolanda

GOD'S LADIE said...

What an on-time word of GOD! Thanks for reminding me that GOD does not want us weighed down with the cares of the world, but rathers wants us to give them to HIM. I have been going thru a time on my job and disloyalty has begun to take a toll on me. Pray my strength in the Lord! Thanks again for the uplifting and wonderful word. Learning to release,
LaTonya

Sharon said...

Paula,
Hey I missed this one, what a awesome post, true,true,true!
I think we all have this.
I guess the other word I am looking to say is,
"Let Go, Let God"! Amen!
Cry out to Jesus, yes he hears us.
I would be exalted if I had to carry all this weight all day, that's why I have been giving it to him.
Great,great post!
nice to hear from ya
Your sister in Christ
Sharon

Anonymous said...

What a contrast between your post and that beautiful picture of the two swans up against a multi-colored bank.

Tracy said...

This post reminds me of the words to a beloved hymn...

What a friend we have in Jesus
all our sins and griefs to bear
what a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer.

Oh what peace we often forfeit
oh, what needless pain we bear
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Well said, Paula!

Sharon said...

I love your blinkies, I tried adding those and I can't seem to succeed with it, hahaha Got any suggestions on what I may be doing wrong?
Your site is so beautiful
sharon

From the Heart said...

Paula,
I think this is the first time I've visited your blog. Awesome is all I can say. You have a wonderful talent and gift from God.
Be blessed,
AliceE.

valerie said...

Good post Paula!

About my kitchen, I'm definitely adding a bolder color...just not quite sure just yet.
I'm not going to do much more until I find the material I want for the valances or curtains???

Sounds like your dining room is really pretty.

I recently bought a new black comforter & actually added red & it looks great!

much2ponder said...

Good post, and thanks for stopping by my blog. I am thankful that someone can relate. A few days before I realized the imigery of the break in the clouds as Jesus Christ, I did exactly what you speak of. I knew I needed to get alone with God and I knew there were things I needed to bring to the cross. I traded my bruden for the Lord's that day and my yoke has been lighter ever sence. Something broke that day and I was able to really let go of some things. Though I was aware of them all along and felt I had brought them to the Lord before, I must have picked them up and added a couple more, but I am happy to say. I am in better spirits now and it is because I finally let go. I kept saying I was waiting on the Lord, when he was waiting for me. God is good!

christi said...

great post paula. why is it so hard for us to give it all to God? i know so many people who struggle with this as i do myself. do we get so wrapped up in ourselves that we think we can handle it?

blessings to you ~

Tim and Tammy Nischan said...

Paula, Thanks for checking in on me! Yes, I am at SheSpeaks and wish you were too......I almost backed out with everything that is going on in my life, but I do believe God wanted me hear to be refreshed if nothing else!
Blessings and love, Tammy

Natalie said...

I am so thankful that my God paid it all for me so I don't have to!