Who Can Really Understand the Weight?
Definition
When you think of weight, you automatically think of the heaviness of something; other words to describe weight are burden, load, pressure, or force. This means when something is added to you that you weren’t fit or expecting to carry, it could slowly bring you down over time. The definition specifically says the mass of an object gives rise to a downward force. So, as the weight rises, you naturally begin to go down as it is applied.
Weight of Inner Struggles
The crazy thing is, sometimes it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and no one around seems to care about the load you carry. As days go by, you continuously and faithfully add on baggage from yesterday, so over time, the yesterday’s load gets hard to bear. It seems as if they see your knees buckling and the sweat dripping down your face as you drag a bag full of worries, a bag full of pain, and a bag full of regrets. Yet still they walk by as if they don’t see the struggle. It’s like, “why won’t you help me!!” And that’s the problem, we expect people to see our inner struggles and come to the rescue. They don’t see the baggage; they can’t see the pain because we constantly let our pride take the wheel when we present ourselves to people. So, when they ask, the answer is always: Oh, I’m good, I got it covered, I can do it by myself! Not understanding that the more pain you harbor, the heavier you get. The word says, “Cast your burdens on the Lord and he will sustain you…” (Psalm 55:22). But if you’re not willing to let go of what’s been stopping your healing, what’s been keeping you in tears, what or who’s been hurting you; The Holy Spirit can’t come in and save you from a load you won’t even release.
Weight of Gift/Leadership
Or maybe the weight of pain is not your issue, maybe it’s the weight of the gift. To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). God called you for a reason; you have something someone else needs, which automatically adds pressure. You ask yourself, who would follow me if they knew I had weaknesses, who would follow me if they knew I had moments where I break down, how can I have so much gift and have moments where I feel so helpless and so lost? And the truth is, we get so caught up in our own strength, and our own works, and what impact we’ll have, we forget to consult the Holy Spirit for his strength and guidance.
If you’re like me, it seems like the more God calls, the more you want to run, the more you want to make excuses, the more you want to disqualify yourself. But the gifts and callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29); God made no mistake when he chose you. The truth is, we don’t really understand the weight that our leaders carry. When you’re graced to do a work, everything may look easy; it may seem as though they have everything in place. But we don’t see what goes on behind the scenes or the constant spiritual warfare they face. We don’t know the burdens they carry for God’s people. Constantly pouring out and not always getting replenished. Always serving and giving, and not always having the right team on their side to help build the vision and help carry some of the weight. And if there were a downside to grace, it would be that no one ever seems to think you need help.
Weight is there to Build and Strengthen
But you see how easy it is to focus on the downside of the weight and point out what’s affecting us. James chapter 1:3-4 says, “You know that under pressure your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you can become mature and well developed not deficient in any way.” We must stop letting the weight paralyze us and bring us down, because contrary to definition, the weight is there to build you up, the weight is there to give you strength, the weight is there to help you hold your own in the fight. The truth is you will always face pressure, but it’s up to you whether you let it crush you or not. We must start educating ourselves with the word because the word is what gives us balance and wisdom. Jesus said we will face trials and tribulations, but he is our peace amid the storm.
Declaration
We must start renouncing the lies the enemy has spoken into our lives and begin offloading these false burdens. So, as we step closer to God, let’s drop off our baggage as we go!
See this pain, it’s not mine, these insecurities you’re not mine, depression you’re not mine! See, I know I will have to carry some weight, but I refuse to take along extra weight that does not belong to me! Spirit of not enough, you’re not mine, spirit of failure, you’re not mine, spirit of sickness, you’re not mine! Father God, I know no one around me can understand this weight, but I also know you are my refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble; so spirit of fear, you’re not mine!
God said it’s time to start using the things you are constantly faced with as tools to win. Stop making excuses and start creating strategies; stop holding everything in, start giving it all to God. It shows him that we can understand the weight, we understand the fight, but we’re also willing to stand tall and strong while he brings us through the process. Don’t be discouraged by the weight and allow the Holy spirit to come in a lighten the load!
CBLH
Originally written 6/9/2019