Have you ever heard the expression, “I didn’t sign up for this?” Sometimes in life the devil throws things at us that we aren’t expecting; it’s what the Bible calls trials and tribulations. What is the Biblical way to deal with these heavy burdens? Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your burdens to the Lord and He will take care of you” (NLT). (See also Ps 37:5). This is reiterated in the New Testament in 1 Peter 5:7 which says, “Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you” (NKJV). If we do what these verses say and lean into God, He will help us, comfort us and give us the strength to go through these trials without giving up. “Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Ps 37:24; NLT). (See also Ps 23:4, Isa 43:2.) Matt 11:28,29 says that if we go to God when we are burdened down, He will ease the load, give us rest and refresh us. In other words, He will minister to us and encourage us.

We’ve heard it said “our attitude determines our altitude.” Feeling sorry for ourselves isn’t the answer but that is what the flesh wants to do. Prov 24:10 says, “if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (ESV). Instead, this is the time to praise the Lord and trust Him for His intervention (Jas 1:2, 2 Chron 20:20-25, Acts 16:25-26). “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab 3:17,18; ESV). Give those burdens to God today, He will see you through.