How many of you have ever done this? You go into the grocery store for one item therefore you don’t grab a cart or basket. You procure your one item but grab something else you see that you needed. As you proceed toward the checkout you see 5 more items on sale and grab them along with a gallon of milk that now dangles precariously on your index finger. You are praying you make it to the checkout before you drop the Jenga-like tower of groceries tucked against your chest and held by your chin. You get to the counter, and you utter a loud sigh of relief as you drop everything onto the belt. Your burden of groceries was getting hard to carry. Now Imagine that same scenario but just as you are about to drop your items on the floor someone comes up along side you and offers to take them for you. They see how tired you are, and you are thankful for their willingness to help. It is only after your arms are free that you realize how heavy and cumbersome your load really is.
I recently had this happen to me at Food Lion. (Except no one came to my rescue) I was just about to play 52 card pick-up with my food when I thought of a verse from Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (King James version uses the word heavy laden – which means overloaded, weighted down.) I was weighed down trying to handle it alone. The burdens we try to bear alone are much heavier than the milk and groceries we try to juggle. I’m talking about real burdens like grief, sadness, sickness, anxiety and exhaustion. God wants us to bring them to Him and DROP them onto His heavenly conveyer belt. Then he wants to give us rest from all the weights and sins that so easily beset us. (Hebrews 12:1). Here’s the invitation again28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(NKJV)
Today I encourage you to let the Lord carry your groceries of burdens, let Him push the cart. We were not designed to carry many of the things we attempt to carry. He offers us rest. A vacation from my worries, grief and anxiety sounds pretty appealing right about now. His invitation is to all- He’s the best Insta-cart ever! See you at the grocery store! LOL