Beyond Common Sense

If you know anything about construction, you know that a load-bearing wall holds the weight of a floor or the ceiling and roof. Obviously, for this reason, you cannot take that wall out when doing serious remodeling.

Do you sometimes feel like a load-bearing wall? Perhaps you aren’t carrying the load of the world on your shoulders, but the weight of responsibilities on your heart seems overwhelming.  I remember asking for prayer for making a serious decision when I taught a high school Sunday school class, and one of the boys said, “Trying to decide which peanut butter to buy?” Teens! I deserved it because I am a tease!

I’ve been feeling that way lately. The care for my mom has ratcheted up to 24/7 care, and her mind is not slipping but rushing down the horrible slope of confusion. It’s so hard to see her that way and comfort her through sane moments. Put on top of that—our son in Castlewood, South Dakota just lost their house to a tornado’s ravage. I’ve never been down this road before! Shocking loss, incredible weight-bearing load for our son—it’s easy to cave under the weight of care. Then, on Sunday, I started having some unusual pain. What in the world is this? After two days, I called the doctor but not before checking out google! How many of you have made that mistake?

Numb. That’s the best description I can give right now. The pain may be nothing, but I don’t know yet. Our son’s doing fine but where are they going to live, how long before… And Mom? SO MANY UNKNOWNS!

If the carpenter knows what he is doing, that load-bearing wall is strong enough to carry the weight. What a blessing!!!! God has custom-made His “walls” to be able to bear the load. Deep inside of every one of His born-again children is “the secret weapon!” That mysterious thing is beyond all human reason. It miraculously kicks in to shore up the wall when it is overwhelmed. We may wobble and shake and cry and buckle, but with the Holy Spirit within us, we can bear load.

Ten times in the NKJV, the phrase “I will be with you” is mentioned. (Good Bible study!!) Isaiah 43;2 was what I was looking for:

Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

The following promise was actually made to Jeroboam because Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, was wicked. I liked the phrase “build for you an enduring house.” That house—our lives—will endure because God made it, redeemed it,  and He stands by His work!

1Ki 11:38 ‘Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.

I’m so thankful for God’s Word, but I’m also thankful for family, friends, organizations like Hospice, and other support groups.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30