Many times when we have friends or loved ones who are going through fiery trials, we feel their pain. God’s word teaches us to love our brothers and sisters as ourselves. “…Rom. 13:9b “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” However, when the trial lingers our feelings can change. We have choices to make. We can either decide to look the other way, live our life and make rash decisions as to why their trials continue.

We can’t seem to understand, so we rationalize the situation to ease our own conscience. We can even try to find answers of how we can ease their situation. If those answers require too much of us, we can begin to feel that the person tested must have sin in their life to deserve this trial.

Just as Isaiah spoke concerning Jesus, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Is. 53:4 If the trial is too hard and it is bumming us out, we can just abandon ship and leave the situation entirely, while all the time stating “that there was just nothing we could do.”

However, the reaction to the trials of another that I want us to think about today, is another option altogether. It springs from the fountain of love and can be very deceptive. We try everything that we know to do to help this person, physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually, but their trial continues. We pray, and pray, and pray, and yet nothing changes. We see our family or friend going deeper and deeper into despair. We want to save them, be there for them, and ease their agony. Yet their situation only seems to get worse.

We then begin to question God ourselves at why our prayers are not being answered. The enemy comes and condemns us. Why are we blessed and they are not? Why should we be happy when they are in pain? How can we enjoy our life where theirs is so miserable? Slowly we begin to feel sad, we become despondent. We feel we have done everything humanly and spiritually and yet it seems that nothing has changed. The heavens remain as brass as the trial rages on. By this time we feel their heaviness.

We can’t enjoy our life for thinking of their life. Little by little our joy slips away quietly as the enemy keeps chipping away at our faith in God, causing us to question God’s actions. We are now in great danger of being stolen away by the enemy of our souls. “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.”  I Cor. 10:12 This happened to me not too long ago. I am a person who loves deeply. I was blessed to have been raised in a family who loved and adored each other. My mother and father were very affectionate. I thought everyone grew up the way I did, in a family that had very little of what the world had to offer, but had the best of what God had to offer, and that is His Love.

I was miserable. My husband tried to counsel me but it fell on ears that would not hear. How could I abandon my friend? I would not. I could not, are we not our brother or sister’s keeper? One day I had to have an answer. I had to have relief. My heart could not take it anymore.

As I was crying out to the Lord, my husband said as he had many times before, “Release this, release it to the Lord.” I said “I have.” He said, “No, you have not, or peace would come.” In total frustration and desperation I cried out violently, “I release this Lord, I release this to you, I can no longer carry this burden.” With these words, my deliverance and answer came immediately
The Lord spoke to me and said, “Charli, I am the Savior, you are not. I did not ask you to save the world, only to love those I send you. I did not ask you to carry their burden, but to share it. Share it in love, prayer, and all the ways that I show you, but don’t try to carry it, for only I could carry the cross.”

Carrying and sharing are totally different. When I try to carry someone else’s burden, I am useless to myself and everyone else. I can only share their burden through intercession and love, and that is enough. For the Lord stated in His word, “Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy ladened, and learn of me, take my yoke upon you, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls.” Matt: 11:28-29

The enemy desires to bind us in self-entangled chains, so that we become useless to everyone. When we share a burden, we can always lay it at the feet of Jesus and remain free to continue to help others as well as ourselves. Remember, Jesus is aware of the situation for He allowed it. Thus, He has the answer for it, and He says: ” I know the plans I have for you (and for my friend or loved one), plans to give you hope and a bright future.”Jer. 29:11.

Oh the joy of a soul set free. As I learned this great truth, I have been much more help to my friend, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Now that I have learned that I am not the Savior, but I am His servant, a clay vessel that He can flow through.
I love you,
Charli