Sunday 25 February 2018

What I Need To Remember When My Shoulders Ache


The dark, heavy clouds hang low, trying their utmost to block out the rays of life-giving sun.

The spiny, gnarled branches of broken trees claw at me like bony fingers digging and scraping at any remaining hope.

Brokenness. Life struggling to break through. The evidence is all around.

I live in a post-disaster zone.

Most days I’m fine. I hold my head up and keep moving on step-by-purposeful step.

But other days I feel it. The pressing down… the throbbing soreness…

But it’s not because of the environment.

Yes, I suppose that contributes. Perhaps it heightens my senses… makes me more aware of the broken, disfigured world we live in… and more in tune to the hurt all around me.

You see, everywhere I look there's always something there to remind me.

People are struggling. Life is hard.

There’s the obvious. The diagnoses… the senseless violence… the families torn apart. The raw, exposed sore of pain out in the open. The stories too hard to hear.

But there’s also another pain… an oppressive ache… the one that no one shouts from the rooftops, but if you keep your ear to the ground, you’ll feel it.

The deep, gnawing heartache of living in a world that was never intended to be this way.

Everyone is carrying a heavy burden.

That’s when my shoulders start to ache.

I get quiet and retreat inside. Looking for answers.

I feel their burdens. I feel their hopelessness… their never-ending search for peace and happiness.

I feel the guilt.

I need to pray more, I scold myself.

There’s just so much need.

The knots tighten.

I sit quietly under the dark cloud.

And then…

The light breaks through. As it always does.
"Thank God my God is a Big God."
The truth brings me clarity.

Yes, He can handle it all. The burdens may be numerous, but He is able and willing to lift them all.

As I sit there with Him. He reassures me. He sees it all. He knows it all. And He cares.

Words are not needed. We commune in silence.

I lay the burdens on his shoulders. He picks them up and carries each one.

Sometimes, I whisper a name. Instantly, He knows who I’m talking about. He knows just what they need.

He listens. He acts. 

And I rest… rest my head on His shoulders as His personal and powerful promises pour over me.

The darkness… the brokenness will not win.

I must remember this.


When my heart bleeds and my shoulders ache from burdens brought on by living in the already but not yet…  striving to survive in the tumultuous times of a world gone bad… I must remember…

My shoulders will never be big enough to carry this world’s burdens… my prayers will always feel like just a drop in the bucket… I will never be able to do enough… but my God can.

He has promised to lift the burdens that I can’t carry.

So, I’m holding Him to His promise. I’m handing them over to Him. He is a big God. Not only is He able, but He longs to help us.

Wouldn’t you join me in handing over your shoulder-aching baggage?

I feel the tension ease away. Don’t you?

Peace begins to trickle in. My God’s got this.


Blessings,

Carlie 

'And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ' (Revelation 21:4)

14 comments:

  1. This brings tears to my eyes, Carlie. I so identify with it. Those aching, drooping shoulders. And the remembrance of our powerful God who can handle it all. Again and again, I have to let go of these burdens to Him and to just lean into Him and trust that He alone is King and He's got the whole word in His hands. Thank you so much for this encouraging reminder! Love and hugs to you!

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    1. Thank you so much, Trudy. You're so right, God alone is King. I'm so glad I could help bring you encouragement through this post. I really appreciate your kindness and solidarity. Blessings, my friend.

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  2. I love this line:
    "My shoulders will never be big enough to carry this world’s burden… BUT my God can."
    Thanks for pointing us to the one who can carry it! Stopped by today via the #raralinkup Praying you have a blessed day!
    ~Sherry Stahl
    xoxo

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Sherry and for your kind comment. Blessings to you!

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  3. Oh, yes.
    Carlie, thanks for words that remind me of a God who is bigger than whatever it is that's making my head or my shoulders ache.
    Blessings to you!

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    1. Thank you, Michele. It's a reminder we all need from time to time, isn't it? Really appreciate your visit and encouraging comment. Blessings!

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  4. I so relate to this. Remembering to always give the burdens of this life to the Lord rather than trying to hold it all together seems to be a constant struggle in this life. He is always present to carry it all, so why do I keep striving? So hard to understand. Thank you for this post and the beautiful verses you shared. Visiting you from Tune in Thursday.

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    1. It really is puzzling - we strain and struggle trying to carry it all, then we lay it down at His feet, feel His peace and rest, but still we wind back at trying to do it all ourselves. Could it be that we forget the peace that's available to us? Grateful for your visit today, Cheryl; blessings to you.

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  5. Hi, Carlie! I'm visiting from Deb's place.
    Oh, this is such a powerful reflection - we too often try to shoulder those burdens that belong to God alone. He is in complete control, and we need to lean on Him for strength, comfort, placing all our burdens at His feet.
    Blessings!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Martha Jane! 'He is in complete control'- that's exactly what we need to remember. Blessings!

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  6. I'm so grateful for the promise of wiped tears and for shoulders that will no longer ache. :-)
    Blessings, my sister!

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    1. Me too, my sister. On dark days that promise lifts my spirits. Always a pleasure to have you visit. :)

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    2. This must have been written just for me. Thank you dear sister, His timing is always perfect. Blessings!

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    3. This actually was inspired by you my sister. I see you, I see how you carry other people’s burdens. It’s shoulder aching ministry that you do. But God is reminding us that He sees, too. And He is able. Blessings my sister!

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