Thursday, 20 August 2026
God Who Bears Our Burdens
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19).
A story is told of a young man walking along a highway, bent under a heavy load. A truck pulled up and the driver offered him a free ride. After a moment’s hesitation the young man accepted and climbed into the back. Yet once he was seated, he continued to stand, still clutching his heavy load. When asked why, he replied, “It’s too much to ask someone to give me a free ride and carry my load as well.”
In life, every one of us carries burdens. Sometimes they are physical, like the young man’s pack. More often they are emotional or spiritual: anxiety about an uncertain job, concern for the future of our family, worry over the state of our nation, fears about our health, or pressure from a struggling business. These burdens weigh us down, hinder our progress, and can keep us restless through the night. We long for them to disappear, yet they persist.
One of the great privileges of the believer is that we have Someone who is willing and able to carry every burden. God is not indifferent to what we carry; He is empathetic. Nothing is hidden from Him, and no load is too heavy for Him to bear. As Psalm 55:22 promises, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
There is, however, a catch. We can be exactly like the young man. Even though Someone has freely offered to take the load, we stubbornly insist on carrying it ourselves. Pride, a false sense of self-reliance, or the desire to remain in control keeps us standing under a weight we were never meant to bear alone. We suffer needlessly while a free offer of help stands open.
Today, do not be like the young man. Do not inflict unnecessary pain and weariness on yourself when God has already offered to shoulder every burden. Whatever you are carrying, He stands ready to take it. Jesus Himself invites us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Almighty God, today I cast all my burdens upon You. I surrender every struggle and every fear. Thank You that You care for me and that You freely offer to carry whatever load I bear. For this grace I give You praise and thanks. This I pray in Jesus’ name!
