Torn

It can be a tough place out there for people that feel.

Have you ever felt guilty for not feeling particularly sad about someone else's tragedy? Have you ever said to yourself, "I've got enough to deal with."

Not that long ago, all you had to deal with were family and friends. As media has grown, especially social media, you're exposed to every evil, every tragic thing, happening to people you'll never meet and never know. Yet, our hearts can be burdened, even broken, over the difficulties we see absolute strangers facing locally, nationally, even globally.

Some can't handle it. Some shield themselves. Some take it all in. If you try to block it all out you risk blocking everything out. If you take it all in you risk total emotional overload. Where is the balance?

To much of anything is too much.

Over the years He's taught me which burdens to carry and how to carry them. He's always reminding me that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Anything beyond that and I'm carrying too much. If I feel my legs wobbling and my shoulders quivering I'm carrying too much, no matter what I might think in my head, or heart. It's time to hand the bulk of the burden back to Him.

We're all called to carry certain burdens. Everyone's basket has something in it. Over time, He strengthens our weak knees and shoulders and His yoke seems to change. We no longer see it as a burden, but a gift, a great responsibility, a great honor to be included in the sufferings of Christ, and of others.

We're destined for different things on this earth, but for those who accept His sacrifice freely our final destination is the same. We will not all endure the same sufferings, but we can comfort others with the same comfort we've received from Him while enduring them.

You were not born to save the world; that's why He was born. You're not alive to solve everyone's problems; my guess is you have enough of your own to deal with. You do not exist to be the zoo keeper of everyone else's monkeys. You were born to walk with God and care for those He cares for, as He leads.

There's no end to the need. Learn from Him and lay your burdens at His feet, just as He laid His at His Father's.

While you're kneeling, let Him place His yoke on your shoulders. His yoke is a perfect fit.