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Listen while you read: "Jesus Loves Me This I Know"1 (Lyrics) |
On two earlier occasions, my husband and I had stayed at the same hotel after driving to visit relatives. This time, we opted for travelling by train. From the Amtrak station, we rode on the light rail system to a station within a short walk to the hotel. We are into our 80s, and we each had a backpack and a tote bag to manage as we trudged slowly uphill to the hotel in the cold wind. By the time we reached the lobby of the hotel, we had to catch our breath as we removed the heavy packs, which seemed to have increased in weight the last few steps.
When we were ready to check out at the end of our stay, a hotel employee approached us. He greeted us, and noting our bags, determined that we were checking out and asked where we were going. When we indicated the light rail station, he said, "Do you want a ride? I can take you." We responded with surprise and doubt, wondering if he was authorized to do that. It turned out that indeed there was a free shuttle! He helped us with our bags, quickly drove us right to the door of the light rail station, unloaded our bags, and wished us a safe trip home. We felt thankful for his assistance and care as we began our trip back home.
This experience reminded me of the times when I assumed that I had to carry my own weighty bags up life's hill instead of depending on God for His help in carrying my burdens. What an embarrassing reminder of all the times when I've rushed ahead in my own foolish assumptions when facing a difficulty or problem, and failed to remember our loving heavenly Father and His love for me, His child.
Psalm 68:19 – Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. (NIV)
1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (NIV)
Philippians 4:6-7 – Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we ask forgiveness for running ahead in our own ways, assuming that we need to do things in our own strength rather than remembering that we can ask You for wisdom and support in all things. Help us to remember Your awesome power and care for both the big and the small things in our lives. Help us to remember that You stand ready to hear and answer Your children when we come to You. Amen.
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Thank you.
Beautiful, blessings.
Wise words, Sharon.
Dear Sharon,
Thank you for another helpful spiritual lesson.
Ah, yes! “Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
Thank you, Sharon, for this reminder to trust God in our difficulties. I, too, have rushed ahead on my own in many situations.
What an amazing lesson; for you and your husband then, but for me in my situation right now!
Many thanks for this timely Devotional,
(BC, Canada)
Greetings Sharon and many thanks for this very reassuring devotional today. Yes, we are truly blessed that our loving Lord is ever ready to serve us and answer to our prayers. He definitely deserves continuous gratitude for His loving kindness. Many blessings to you for your special writings.
Hello Sharon
Thank you for this reminder that we do not have to carry our burdens!!!!
The scriptures used also, very encouraging and loving reminder of who we serve!!!
Have a great weekend.
God bless.
Good morning, Sharon,
As we walk on this road of life there are indeed heavy loads to carry at times. Your devotional today is such a good reminder that there is always someone to help us carry those loads. He will indeed help us daily with those heavy burdens.
Thank you for those good words.
Blessings.
Thank you, Sharon, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us! I so remember struggling with luggage between my hotel and the elevated railway station! Thank God for the kindness of a passerby who helped me catch my El train by lugging my baggage up many stairs to the platform and for the train engineer who insisted I sit opposite him so he could watch out for my safety in the wee hours of the morning! They were God’s angels!
Blessings.
Good morning, Sharon,
It is wonderful to meet an employee who goes out of his way to help others. He is an asset to that hotel as well as to you and your husband.
Your message is so true. We seem to be born with a gene that tells us we have to do it ourselves. When we finally learn to trust in God’s strength and wisdom, it is amazing. Sometimes we still forget to turn it over to Him right away, but most of us do eventually turn to God for His guidance and comfort. Great message that we all need reminders of and such a good example showing a practical application of the way it can work with God.
Good passages from the Bible to support your devotional and a prayer to ask forgiveness and the wisdom to remember to turn to God for his help and comfort. Blessings.
Dear Sharon,
Reading your devotional today, came just when I needed it and it brought tears to my eyes.
You see, I start a long and arduous journey from Ontario, Canada to my original hometown in India. It is just me on this journey and I was getting very anxious about waking up in good time to get ready and just like you, trudge with a suitcase and backpack from my home to a bus stop about a kilometer away to catch the express bus to the airport. Owing to the pandemic, security checks have very long lines at the airport and some passengers have been reported to have missed their flights.
But on reading your devotional, I could not help crying as I was reassured of the Help I have available by leaving it all in God’s hands.
Thank you, Sharon.
Thank you so much for your beautiful devotion. It was a great reminder that we do not need to carry our burdens alone. God had told us to lean on him. We forget.
Thank you again.
(MS)
Thank you, Sharon. I love the reminder, “Don’t worry about anything.” In short, “Let go, and let God.” Right?
Hello Sharon,
Thank you for sharing your story “Heavy Burdens Lifted” in the PresbyCan Daily Devotionals. Thank you for the reminder of Philippians 4:6-7 and your prayer.
(ON)