Day 7 | Galatians 6:2-3
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
Galatians 6:2-3 (NLT)
For Reflection:
Share each other’s burdens. Sometimes it feels as if there are too many burdens to even keep track of. If you or your family are not currently experiencing something particularly burdensome, chances are someone close to you - a friend, a co-worker - is going through something. We are particularly aware right now of those who are struggling with food insecurity and energy costs to heat their homes. Scroll your social media and you’re bound to run into a GoFundMe page or plea for prayer for a tragic story. Listen to the news and we can find plenty to feel burdened for. Sometimes the idea of taking on more than my own acute burden in front of me feels like too much. Sometimes the amount of need leaves me feeling defeated before I even want to start. I can put up barriers, of “not my problem”, “I have enough on my plate”, “I can’t do it all”, and work hard to hold up my own burdens as I go.
I wonder for a minute about what these verses say about this. Is this verse saying to do it anyway, that it is the law if I am to be a Christ-follower, that whatever feelings of overwhelm or excuses I have are not important because I am not that important and can be used up for the sake of carrying other’s burdens? It is easy to feel like I am never doing enough. But what if this is saying something else? What if it is saying that Christ’s way is a completely different way? In Christ's way, we can share one another’s burdens. In Christ’s way, I am not too important or too judgmental to help those around me. In Christ’s way, I am sharing my burden with those around me too. In Christ’s way, the burdens of the whole world do not rest on my shoulders, but his. I am not the Savior, I am the saved. I am not too important or too busy with my own agenda to point to the Savior. I am not too important or prideful to share my burdens with others. I am not responsible for saving the world, and this frees me up to stay present in the face of burdens, to do my small part in coming alongside others and together lifting the burdens of this broken world up to the Savior who saves us all.
Let us Pray:
Dear God, our world can feel like it’s drowning in burdens. We can feel like we’re drowning in burdens. It is too much for any one person, and we just know so much these days. But it’s not too much for you. We give every burden that crosses our paths to you. We lift up every heavy thing that we see in this broken world. You are with us every step and you can handle it. Even when it’s easier to shut it all out or to hide above it all in our privilege, we pray that you keep us awake to the burdens. Keep us aware of the brokenness and of ways to bring your light to the darkness. Keep us from hiding in judgement or becoming self-important, and keep us looking and pointing to you. I pray for one particular burden that you bring to my mind. I pray for restoration, for your presence, for the next step I can take in sharing in this burden. We trust you are making all things new, let me see it and join in your will today. Amen.
Questions:
Is there one person, cause or situation that I feel particularly burdened for?
Is there one thing I can do to share in that burden today?
Is there a burden I am carrying that would feel easier if I shared it?