In the past, life seems to have involved a lot more heavy physical activity than we have today. We have learned to build and develop various machines to help us with the heavy load we sometimes need to pick up or move. Hard work was good for a person up to a point because it led to strong and healthy bodies if it was not overdone. Lifespans were often shortened due to the body simply wearing out. In our gyms today, we have great varieties of equipment designed to help us build muscle, stamina or flexibility. We have learned that there are ways to lift a heavier object that will not lead to severe back problems. I have seen a number of people with severe back problems that arose from not lifting in the best way or from damaging their back in some way. Often it is within the ranks of nurses that I see this problem and that is likely due to the times when they simply had to lift from an awkward position. Heavy loads are manageable with good equipment and good habits for lifting, transporting and handling. Some are simply too heavy and yet we often try to do more than we should. Mankind has learned to handle heavy physical loads if he uses proper methods and the equipment he has made.
There are extra heavy loads that almost every one of us must bear that do not weigh an ounce. They would tip the scales at zero. Those loads impact us in a way that can leave us with damage that lasts a lifetime. These weightless loads cause weariness to our whole being and often permanent damage to our mind. Our heaviest loads are such things as anxiety, worry, anger, a vengeful heart, rage, jealousy, fear, lust, disappointment, plus an ongoing list that you can personally add to. This large range of weights strike everyone to some degree sometime in a lifetime. Some are heavier than others and are easily manageable, but some seem to weigh a ton. God inspired the writers of the Scriptures to give us some guidance with these unseen burdens because we are not always able to find a solution on our own. The Bible does not tell us how to move physical things because God has given us a good enough mind that we can learn what is best, but somehow we still continue to take short cuts or do things without thinking that hurt us physically. We humans have designed marvelous tools to help lift physical things and that is good. But when it comes to lifting, carrying or moving these unseen burdens, we can slip into despair, hopelessness and helplessness which can leave us to suffer mentally all of our days. In the non-physical area, we also tend to take on too much stress. We need tools to help carry the great loads that do not weigh an ounce, but can cripple us.
Some of the solution to our dilemma is supplied by God. He advises us how to construct machinery to lift and carry heavy mental loads and how to handle them when they are too heavy. Just as it is important to take care of our bodies by avoiding extra strain, it is important that we discipline ourselves mentally and take care of our mind. We read in the Scriptures: "A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them (Prov. 27:3). Most characters in the Bible have carried some heavy mental loads. Abraham and Sarah with the childless years, mistakes and consequences of their deeds. Isaac and the betrayal of his wife and Jacob and ensuing heartache. Jacob lived for many years with the heartache of the loss of Joseph and Joseph's brothers carried their burden of guilt for years. King David suffered from his bad choices that affected the lives of so many. Samson fought his anger. Paul never forgot the families he destroyed in his determination to eliminate the church Jesus was building. People suffer from sins like hatred, adultery, jealousy and the like. Unless the wounds are disinfected and bound up, they tend to putrefy.
One of our favourite expressions is: "don't worry." That is good and bad advice at the same time. When we face huge problems or are already carrying a heavy load, we may have already hurt our spiritual back to the point that we are in constant pain. While worrying will not heal us, worry or concern is good before we injure ourselves. Often our inner damage is the result of some foolish action we have taken. We can be riddled with guilt for something we did or forgot to do. We can worry that people will think badly of us with no basis except something in our thought patterns. One of the habits of thinking that brings about a heavy load is based more on how we think than on the actual load that we think we carry. Thinking that nobody loves me, for example, is a heavy load which may not be true. But when carrying that load, we often avoid taking the needed steps to lessen it. We can learn to be better social creatures and develop thinking patterns that are more positive based on good actions we have taken. In other words, when we have a load to carry, we need to be looking for ways to carry it properly without damaging ourselves or get some assistance in carrying it.
Paul had many loads to carry and gave excellent advice to the faithful who were living in difficult times. It was not easy to be a Christian at that time just as it is not easy today. Paul wrote: "Be anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6). He did not mean that there were not things to worry about or be anxious over, he meant that when we face these loads, we should turn to God with thankfulness for the positive and wonderful blessings we do have and ask for help through prayer and supplication. He gave excellent advice when he told people to earnestly search for positive things in their lives (Phil. 4:8-9). His advice was to meditate on these things. Meditation is a wonderful tool we can use. In healthy meditation, we ought to begin by counting all of our blessings. That is positive and since our minds are somewhat plastic in a way - we can set about molding the way we think. By focusing on positive things, we can think more clearly about solutions rather than allowing sorrow, anger, frustration and those negative thoughts grow in our minds. Parents know the importance of encouragement to their children. We all need that.
Good advice, like putting things we cannot handle into the hands of Almighty God, can remove a lot of stress and worry from our minds (Psalm 55:16-19). We need to learn to let go of things that we cannot control. Anxiety in the heart causes depression, but a good word makes it glad (Prov. 12:25). It is good for the self when we reach out and help others in need. Somehow giving of ourselves is a positive action that helps diminish our own problems. Among the many good points of advice about how to think, we read from Peter's words: "Let brotherly love continue," Remember those who are hurting, "do good and share", "be content with the things you have," "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct" (Heb. 13:1-7). We are social creatures and we need one another in a healthy way. Character which God helps us all develop and teaches gives strength inwardly and makes us able to help others.
Jesus spoke a lot about worry and anxious thought. He said it had little value, so seek the things that really do have value in life. He said we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matt. 6:25-34). He also said to offload some of our cares on Him (Matt. 11:28). A great number of the loads we carry remain heavy because we focus on them and forget the bigger picture of life. We need to learn to prepare for life because that lessens worry, we need to control our thoughts and fears because feeding them results in phobias and much greater fears than we first had. Heavy loads can be managed if we include Christ in our lives and have the right focus. Then we can put down needless weights and use our energy for wisely taking care of troubles that life brings. Jesus said He will share that load.