What happens
if we find the suffering and load too heavy?
When we suffer it is natural that we get angry, frustrated, worried and
dejected. When we try to solve our suffering by ourselves we usually find the
load too heavy and too stressful. But, if we go to Jesus and learn from Him, He
can lighten our load. As Christians we are encouraged to go to Jesus to
overcome our suffering, depression, fear, pain and hurt with His help. Jesus
promises that He will give us the strength to endure the burden, "Come to Me,
all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder My
yoke and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. Yes, My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew
11:28-30 NJB) It is very important to remember Jesus advice that we are not
to add our worry of tomorrow to today: "So do not worry about tomorrow, it
will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles
each day brings." (Matthew 6:34 TEV) And "Can any of you live a bit longer by
worrying about it? If you cant manage even such a small thing, why worry about
the other things?" (Luke 12:25-26 TEV) We can be absolutely sure that God is
there to support us through these trying times, if we trust that God will keep
His promises: "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be alarmed, for I am
your God. I give you strength, truly I help you, truly I hold you firm
with My saving right hand."(Isaiah 41:10 NJB) In such trying times, it is also
good to constantly remind ourselves of Jesus saying, "The world will make you
suffer. But be brave. I have defeated the world." (John 16:33 TEV) Jesus further
comforts us by telling us, "Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid." (John
14:27 NJB) We are important in the sight of God. He says, "You are precious to
me...because I love you" (Isaiah 43:4 TEV). The very reason Jesus Christ
came to earth to offer Himself in sacrifice is so that we might have life in all
its fullness. It is His desire that we experience life more abundantly: "I
have come so that they may have life and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NJB)
And can we be sure that God will always be near us to help us in our
pain and troubles? We can be sure that God will be near to help us if we
abide in Him. To abide in Him we have to love Him, trust Him, come to Him, obey
Him, pray to Him, and yield to Him. God promises that our troubles or
suffering will not overwhelm us and He will be with us in our hard times, "Do
not be afraid--I will save you. I have called you by name-you are mine. When
you pass through deep water, I will be with you; your troubles will not
overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard
trials that come will not hurt you." (Isaiah 43:1-3 TEV) St Paul is certain
that, "The Lord will rescue me from all evil and take me safely into His
heavenly Kingdom."(2 Timothy 4:18 TEV) David tells us that God is always
ready to help us in our troubles, for "God is our shelter and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid,
even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if
the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by violence." (Psalms 46:1-3
TEV) God is with us when we call upon Him, "When they call to
Me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will
rescue them and honor them." (Psalm 91:15 TEV). "Call to Me, and I will
answer you;" (Jeremiah 33:3
TEV)
St Paul complained to Timothy that
all have deserted him in his trouble, "But the Lord stood by me and gave me
power" (2 Timothy 4:17 NJB). Jeremiah says, "The LORD has appeared of old to me,
saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with
loving kindness I have drawn you."(Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV) Jesus says, "I will never
turn away anyone who comes to Me," (John 6:37 TEV). God will never leave us nor
abandon us. He promises that, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon
you"(Hebrew 13:5 TEV) and "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
(Matthew 28:20 NKJV) We have to learn to hear with our inner ears and hearts to
the many comforting phases of I will above. We can take God at His Word that He
will help us, comfort us, strengthen us and support us through our pain and
suffering.