The Burdens of the World—Not Yours to Carry

The News Horses Race In

Images of war-torn villages in Ukraine, Nigeria, Gaza, Israel, and throughout the world are brought into our homes daily. Videos of natural disasters, disease, pain, crime, and a host of other atrocities invade our living rooms, riding an alphabet of swift stallions named ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and others. They don’t barge in; we invite them. They stand ready twenty-four hours a day to accentuate the misery, the hatred, and the wickedness in our world. They capture our hearts and minds and leave us feeling helpless, defenseless, burdened, and overwhelmed. The newscast warns us that some of the images may be alarming, but we watch, we experience, we feel, and we almost smell the destruction of lives and families.

Unless one is a total narcissist or sociopath, these images impact us. Never has so much of the world’s pain and devastation been available to us. The agony and anguish of humanity are real. In our nation, the home of the free and the land of the brave, we are experiencing less freedom and are feeling somewhat less than brave. You and I can name the issues and may include some others will not, but these surely will be on our lists:

• Dysfunction in Congress
• Inflation
• Crime
• Disrespect for authority
• Complete collapse of our border
• A growing ignorance of Judeo-Christian values
• Collapse of common sense and common decency
• You name it

My Mind Runs and Runs at Night

We must carry our burdens and issues and help family and friends carry their troubles. Often at night, as we lay down, our minds race toward our unresolved issues. In addition, our minds dredge up the news of the day. You know what I am talking about, don’t you? We were not made to carry the world’s burdens; we were created to take the Good News to the world. Only God in heaven can carry such a load. I am convinced that a great deal of the anxiety and fear we experience are regarding things far beyond our reach. When my mind starts running at night, I usually do some, if not all, of the following:

1. Is there anything I can do about this?
   • If yes, make a note and check it tomorrow.
   • If not, add it to a prayer list called evening prayers.
2. I declare: God, you are always awake, and I give this to you so I can sleep.
3. I focus on Jesus and thank Him for the blessings in my life.
4. I recite the Lord’s prayer in my mind or some other scripture.
5. I focus on a place or time that always brings peace to me.
6. I breathe deeply and relax in the Lord.
7. If I still have trouble, I get up, read or write, and then return to bed. Unlike most people, I usually have a cup of coffee, but it doesn’t keep me awake.

You most likely need to develop your list, but these are some of the things that help me.

In the prayer He taught the disciples, I believe the Lord gives us clear direction.

The Lord’s Prayer-Matthew 6 (NIV)	My thoughts
9Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,	Focus on the One in control and praise/reverence His name.
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.	Lord, it is all about your kingdom and your will.
11 Give us today our daily bread	The Lord meets our needs spiritually and physically.
12 And forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors.	Forgive me (us), and help me (us) to forgive others.
13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from the evil one.	Keep us from hard trials so the enemy has no advantage.

Prayer of a Child

When I was a child, my mom would help me with my prayers. I prayed for mom, dad, sister, papa, great papa, nanny, grandma, and cousins (even the pinching boy), and I ended the prayer with God bless the whole world. I wonder sometimes if that doesn’t cover the Lord’s prayer in a child’s heart. I will pray for specific things and for others; I must pray that God moves upon the world and brings peace.

Perhaps I need less news and more prayer and Scripture; how about you?

May God bless you this week.

Walking together in Hope, turning it around one day at a time.

James D. Allen

Overflowinghope180.com