Daily
Devotional

Like myself, my neighbor is a woman who lives alone. Years ago, her husband planted dozens of trees in their yard. Now, I am the beneficiary of many of the leaves, twigs, and dirt that blow from those trees in the fall and winter. This debris regularly litters my driveway, collects on my roof, clogs my downspouts, and covers my yard.  

As I was sweeping up one such mess in my driveway this morning, and perhaps also grumbling a bit to myself about the imposition, the Lord spoke today’s focus verse to me. Immediately I thought, “But Lord, don’t I have enough burdens of my own?”

I began to ponder the meaning of the word burden. Usually a burden is something heavy or unpleasant; the dictionary says, “an onerous or difficult concern.” Then I wondered why the Lord would want us to bear someone else’s burdens. Quickly to my mind came examples of times when people in my church have borne burdens for me. One experience in particular was extremely vivid—one time, as I was praying, I felt as though hands were lifting me up, and the Lord showed me that it was the prayers of the saints.

Realizing how much I had appreciated the support of others in the past, I decided I would stop my grumbling and be helpful to my neighbor. I thanked the Lord for the strength and energy He had given me to be able to go out and clean up my yard, and at once a good feeling came over me!

There are many different ways to bear someone’s burden. It could be time spent on our knees in prayer, helping one financially, or making meals for a person who is sick or who has a sick family member. We might not always know who it is that needs support, so we must be listening to God for direction. Blessings await those who are willing to pick up a heavy load for another!