Bearing Our Burdens

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. – (Psalm 68:19, NIV) 

Praise the Lord! Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. – (Psalm 68:19, ERV) 

Blessed be the Lord who carries our heavy loads every day, the True God who is our salvation. – (Psalm 68:19, VOICE) 

God is faithful, always. In the throes of the heaviness, He is present. When we are feeling stuck, He is ready and able to lead us through so that we may believe in the midst of our burdens.  Salvation is understood as we find hope in the heavy, and recognize the presence of God. I find myself in a solid space of reminiscing about God’s faithfulness, and how He bears our burdens. A little over a year ago, my mom suffered a massive stroke. We were blindsided by this, as she had always been strong and healthy and independent. As we have walked through the recovery process with mom, each day, God has handled our burdens and helped us carry the weight of worry and fear.  The verse found in Hebrews 6:19, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” has been a sort of battle cry and comfort as we have navigated all of the new that comes with this sort of challenge. Being a visual person, I have wanted to artistically memorialize the anchor that God has been, in a way that was a tangible reminder of His faithfulness to steady us, always. Yesterday, the desire that I had held finally came to fruition. On my right foot, which is the side of mom’s body impacted by the stroke, I had an anchor with flowers from mom’s yard, along with her usual signature on cards, memorialized in ink. For me, every step I take, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness to continue to bring healing, help and wholeness to my mom. It also reminds me to pray with gratitude for the life that He spared, and is continuing to restore. She went from being wheelchair bound a year ago, to walking by herself with a cane today. It has taken tremendous determination and hard work, but mom has never shied away from either, and depends on God to be her strength. May we ever remember Who is near and present to help us with the loads we carry, and loves us through every step that we take. 

Hope is the anchor, 

A gift from the Lord; 

His grace and His love, 

As asked, He’ll afford. 

He’ll carry the weight, 

Of burdens we bear; 

Bring loving comfort, 

Tangible, His care. 

Regardless of weight, 

His grace is enough; 

To lead and guide us,  

Through all sorts of stuff. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You help us with the burdens we bear, and when they grow too heavy, You carry us. Thank You that You are the faithful anchor of our soul – strong and secure. Forgive us for the times that we attempt to carry things alone, rather than seeking You for help. Teach us to trust You more, as You are forever faithful to help, as You love us through every storm that comes our way. Show us how to love others well. Lead us to love in a way that brings comfort, encouragement, and strength, so that all might know that they are not alone when storms rage around them. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for being our ever-present help, and the anchor that secures our heart in the midst of storms. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. – Ephesians 4:2

Carry Me

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who bears our burdens. – (Psalm 68:19, NIV)

Praise the Lord! Every day He helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. – (Psalm 68:19, ERV)

Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in His arms. – (Psalm 68:19, NLT)

 

God is the God of all grace. His help is tangible, and most days, the very air that I am breathing. In this longest season, He provided a 24-hour reprieve with my family and friends. Though it was not what I had anticipated, it was what I needed. Due to a mix-up on drop-off times, it was discovered that my boys would not be leaving until evening, (for their nine-day long cruise with Sea Scouts) rather than the original morning time that I had anticipated. As it turned out, it was a wonderful blessing. In the morning, I was able to run some errands and spend time with Mark, go for a run with Ashley, and allow the boys a few extra hours of sleep. After having returned to shower and get ready, the boys and I had time to enjoy a nice lunch out together and run a quick last-minute errand, prior to my drive back to Wenatchee. A dear friend had volunteered to drop the boys off in the evening, so I knew that they would be delivered safely too. God’s grace lightened the load that I was bearing, even though it did not look the way that I had envisioned it would.

Yesterday, as I was blessed with bonus time with my husband and boys, mom had more wonderful visiting time with her dear friends. From great conversation at the breakfast table, to ongoing engaging exchange throughout the day, I returned to the trio happily communicating with each other in the living room. It took some adjusting to reestablish our routine, but by bedtime, we were back in sync. All of the time spent in conversation and connection was the best speech therapy that mom could have asked for. It was clear that she had utilized all of her energy throughout the day, as she was ready to sleep by bedtime. Unfortunately, sleep did not go as smoothly as it has been, with a few wake-ups during the night. I am hopeful that it was an isolated incident, brought on by transitions, and am praying that we get back to sweet sleep tonight.

Despite the anticipation of the road ahead, I will praise Him, for He will carry the burdens that we are not meant to bear.

 

All praise to our God,

Who lightens the load;

Carries our burdens,

When we hit rough roads.

His goodness and grace,

Ever they are near;

As He soothes heartache,

And fends off our fears.

When things are too much,

And we can’t go on;

The Lord carries us,

By grace, makes us strong.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness, kindness and grace. Thank You that You carry us when the burdens are too heavy to bear. Thank You that You know what we need and You provide far better than what we would hope or imagine for ourselves. Forgive us for our frustrations and fears when things do not go according to plan. Teach us to trust You more, as You never leave us nor forsake us, and You make a way where there seems to be no way. Show us how to love those around us well, so that we might encourage, strengthen and build up the spaces that are lacking. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your faithfulness to come alongside us and carry us when we can go no further. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. – Psalm 33:20

Carried

Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in His arms. – (Psalm 68:19, NLT)

Praise the Lord! Every day He helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. – (Psalm 68:19, ERV)

 

I am abundantly aware of His help and His arms in this long and exhausting season. This latter portion of the school year has been the most difficult one that I can recall in recent years. There are numerous factors contributing to the building burnout, yet each day, as the final bell rings, I breathe a sigh of relief and recognize the grace that has carried me. God is good, and He is my help and my hope, even when I struggle. He walks beside us, and helps us carry the burdens that we are unable to bear on our own, and He saves us from walking away when we are meant to stay. May we ever seek Him to be our help and our hope, and give Him our praise for all that He has done.

 

When the road is rough,

And we’re weary, worn;

Trust in the Lord’s help,

With strength, He’ll adorn.

For when we are weak,

He comes along side;

Helps carry our load,

To rest, He will guide.

Rise up, praise the Lord,

He’s our God who saves;

Our help and our hope,

Throughout all our days.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the Lord, our God and Savior. Thank You that You carry us in Your arms when we cannot continue on our own. Thank You that You never leave us nor forsake us. Forgive us for attempting to bear burdens on our own, rather than turning to You in trust. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would lay them at Your feet, and allow You to show us what is ours to carry, and what You are already managing on our behalf. Lead us to love those around us in such a way, that we help lift them up and let them know that they are not alone when the road gets rough. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for who You are, and thank You for all that You do to be our help and our hope. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Listen… be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. – Proverbs 23:19

Carried In His Arms

Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in His arms. – (Psalm 68:19, NLT)

Praise the Lord! Every day He helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. – (Psalm 68:19, ERV)

 

If we take pause and evaluate what takes place throughout any given day, the evidence of God’s hand is clear. He helps us with our heavy loads, and carries us when we grow weary. For all these things and more, the Lord deserves our praise. His grace supplies the strength that we need to keep moving in the midst of life’s messiness. So often, we fail to recognize just how evident His hand has been, until we have reached the other side and take time to reflect. Regardless of our awareness, the Lord is near. May we slow down and give praise to our Provider, as He is our help and our hope as we navigate each new day.

 

All praise to the Lord,

From whom blessings flow;

Let’s praise God above,

Who grants strength to grow.

For He is our help,

When we are in need;

He lightens our load,

Helps us to succeed.

The Lord, our Savior,

Worthy of all praise;

May we give Him thanks,

For all of our days.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our God and Savior who carries us in Your arms. Thank You that You help us with the loads we must bear. Thank You that You save us, and supply the strength that we need. Forgive us for not giving You proper praise, as You alone are worthy of all of our gratitude. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would come before You with all of our thanks and all of our needs, trusting You with all things and at all times. Show us how to allow You to share our load, and to carry us when we cannot walk on our own any longer. Lead us to love others in such a way, that we help bear burdens and carry those who are struggling. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for each new day, and trust Your help as our God and Savior. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. – Ephesians 2:4-5

 

Praise to the Burden Bearer

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. – (Psalm 68:19)

 

Though we all must face barriers and burdens before us, not one of us was ever meant to bear them alone. God created us with relationship in mind. Even when the original intent for the relationship was fractured with the fall of man, Christ came to create the way for nearness to be restored, and for mankind’s mistakes to be made right before our Maker.

 

We each have a choice. If we choose Christ, and opt to allow Him to be the center of our lives, He comes along side us, forgives and restores us to righteous standing before Him, and is our help and our hope, bearing our burdens and guiding us through that which we were never meant to walk through alone. Because He is God who saves, He alone deserves our praise. May we give Christ all of our praise, and allow Him to bear the burdens that we cannot carry.

 

May praise be present,

to the Lord our King;

Who bears our burdens,

His grace offering.

Let not life’s challenge,

lead our hearts astray;

for only in Christ,

will we find the way.

The Lord’s way is love,

to save and restore;

to walk alongside,

give strength to endure.

All praise unto You,

our Savior and King;

for in You alone,

we find what strength means.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our God and Savior who daily bears our burdens when we seek You and willingly place them in Your hands. Thank You that no matter what comes, Your strength is sufficient to carry us through. Forgive us for attempting to bear our burdens alone, or for questioning Your ability to carry that which is weighing us down. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will come before You and ask You to bear what we are not meant to carry. Help our hearts remain in a perpetual place of praise unto You, for You deserve all of our adoration and honor for who You are. Lead us to love others with a love like Yours, and may many come to know You personally as a result. Be exalted O God, as we praise You, the beautiful bearer of our burdens. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6

The Faultless Father

One of my favorite stories that my dad likes to tell, is when I was quite young, I had a cracker that I had broken somehow, and with total trust and assurance that my dad could indeed do what I was asking, I extended the fractured pieces toward him and said, “Daddy, fix it?”

 

Though our human fathers may be capable of many great things, not one of them can fix in us, all that is fractured. However, our Heavenly Father, can. I know today is a mixed bag of emotions for many, as not all have access to their earthly fathers, nor the desire to do so. There is a Father that we all have access to, who is waiting with arms open wide. Jesus came to heal the broken, love the hurting and save all those who are feeling lost and alone. Peace is found in Him who created each of us, and knows us better than we know ourselves.

 

Cautious, Super Spouse & Adventurous a few years ago…

May we each make time,

to celebrate You;

our ultimate Dad,

whom hope is held through.

Please bless all the dads,

who honor You well;

that love as You ask,

in whose hearts You dwell.

Be near to the ones,

who have lost their dad;

memories of joy,

rather than the sad.

Stay close too, to those,

whose fathers are not;

what they’re meant to be,

will You fill that spot?

Lord Jesus, today,

I’m happy to say;

You’re our perfect Dad,

on this Father’s Day.

 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. – (Psalm 68:5)

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that whether we have a wonderful dad, an absent dad, or anything in between – You are our Father without fault, who loves us unconditionally. Thank You that You see and know us, yet still love, in spite of ourselves. Thank You that when we come to You and commit our lives to You, You welcome us into Your family forever. Forgive us for our failings with our fathers, and heal fractured places in each of us. May today be a reason for all to celebrate fathers – and above all, a celebration of You, our Heavenly Father. Let our hearts hold fast to the security we have in You, and may we live and love as lights to all whom encounter. May many come to know You as their Heavenly Father today. Be exalted as we celebrate You and the fathers who reflect Your heart and character today. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us. – Psalm 67:1

 

 

The Bearer of Burdens

image by Graham Kraka

Praise to the Lord,

our God who saves.

Who bears our burdens,

all of our days.

He is sovereign,

over the earth.

His love, mighty,

before our birth.

He is our shield,

protective One.

Lighter of dark;

Fueler of sun.

No harm may come,

to guarded soul;

the eternal –

forever whole.

Though illness comes,

and bodies break;

future secured,

in heaven’s wake.

(Responding to Psalm 68:19-20)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You lovingly and willingly bear our burdens so that we don’t have to.  Thank You that You save us from sin, self, and all that seeks to destroy us.  Thank You that You are far greater than anything that would try to come against us.  Forgive us for our fears and doubts, and help us to completely depend on You.  Thank You that You are a shield about us.  Teach us to walk confidently in the covering and light of Your love, so that we too, may love others as You love us.  May many come to know You by our love.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

What Shall I Bring?

image by His Heart Scribe

All praise to Him,

shall we declare.

Burden Bearer,

comfort and care.

Daily we bring,

cares to lay down;

and in exchange –

the victor’s crown.

Our God who saves,

preserves our life.

Defeated death,

conquered all strife.

Loving Father,

and reigning King,

What can I offer?

What might I bring?

All that He wants,

is my whole heart.

To gain and give love,

each day a new start.

Psalm 68:19-20 – “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.  Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.”

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that it is not about us doing certain things just so, to be deemed worthy to come before You; but rather, You want a heart that is seeking You, our Savior, despite the brokenness and ugliness that we bear.  Teach us to passionately pursue You with our whole heart, and forgive us for holding back.  Lead us to live lives that are an ongoing act of worshipping You in spirit and truth.  Let our lives be a song that resonates in the hearts of all those who might hear, so that many may be guided in grace unto Your loving embrace.  Be glorified through all that we say and do.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present