I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.
(Numbers 11:14 NKJV)
Does the above verse sound familiar? Perhaps your version replaces the word “people” with responsibilities, bills, or a mix of many things. No matter what has landed on your shoulders, you have grown weary from carrying its weight.
As Israel broke camp and began their journey to the Promised Land, they became irritable. Nothing like a road trip to bring out the worst in people, especially if you are traveling with kids.
Usually, we go on vacation to take a break from it all. Many of our most overwhelming seasons occur right at home or on the job.
Moses tells us the mixed multitude began to whine. They weren’t Israelites. They were Egyptians who wanted to tag along just to piggyback off Israel’s divine blessings, but they became homesick. They reminded their Israelite neighbors about the delicacies they left behind in Egypt. How they missed the fish, cucumbers, and melons. They craved onions and garlic. They had tired of God’s manna, and they aroused God’s anger.
…So the fire of the Lord burned around them, consuming some… (Numbers 11:1 NKJV)
Realizing they had displeased the Lord, they cried out to Moses. When he prayed, the fire ceased.
How quick we forget! That’s when they grumbled about their longing for meat. Moses had enough! Moses approached God and asked Him why He had to deal with these discontent people. Moses asked God if he had conceived all of them. He inquired of the Lord as to where he might find enough meat to feed over two million people. Then comes our focal verse, the one we identify with. Moses had been pushed beyond his limits. Next, Moses asked God to kill him as a favor. That’s pretty desperate!
God’s compassionate heart was touched by His servant, Moses as he cried out to God for help. Do you know what God did? He gave Moses some helpers. Seventy of the elders of Israel received the same spirit God had placed on Moses. God honors our pleas for divine intervention.
My friend, sometimes our loads arise from our inability to say, “No!” Other burdens are beyond our control. When we learn to manage what is within our control, then we can seek our heavenly Father to help us with the rest.
When we are overburdened, overloaded, and overwhelmed, God will overcome!
I’ve sought God’s help as a blind author, struggling with technological issues that even baffle sighted folks. Like Moses, I was ready to throw in the towel. “God, You gave me a ministry I cannot handle.” Then God gave me a publisher who allows me to write while he does the difficult tasks.
Friend, do you feel you are about to break from the burdens taxing you? You can slow the flow of people pleasing. Then ask your heavenly Daddy to do the rest.
Heavenly Father, I will share my burdens with You because I know You want to lighten my load. I know You are a burden bearer. In Jesus’ name, amen.
DIG DEEPER
Read Psalm 61:1-2 NKJV
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
HIKING THE TRAIL
Do you tend to only take certain things to the Lord, such as only the big stuff or possibly only the small stuff? God wants us to bring it all to Him. What do you need to give Him today?
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Originally posted on December 28, 2020 @ 3:00 am
I can relate to this from the beginning of 2018 when I transitioned from support staff of the group home I worked in to assistant manager and then as Manager in May 2019. Being on call 24/7/365 took a tole on my life in all areas. Physically I was exhausted from phone calls and text messages from staff in the middle of the night for NON-emergency stuff. Emotionally I was drained from the demands that came down from the Admin office. Spiritually I was dyeing a slow death. I complained A LOT to God and my office partner. But God…I look back and see God’s hand in 2018. I 100% believe God allowed the on the job fall that dislocated my left elbow and broke my left little finger. You see that fall put me out of commission for 2 months. Dr, orders to stay 100% at home, no working. During that time 2 very major incidents took place in the home I was assistant manager in allowing the very experienced manager to handle in my place. God’s hands were all over that. Then because my elbow never healed I needed reconstruction surgery in Feb 2019. That put me out of commission again for 2 months. At this point my mobility was declining very rapidly due to my right knee osteoarthritis (bone on bone).and it was becoming apparent I was getting to the point of not being able to do my job. Then in May of 2019 the Admin office restructured management on the homes removing all assistant managers to make them sole manager of the home and the manager would transition into newly created jobs. When that happened I knew my days were numbered due to both my really bad knee and my still being on light duty due to my elbow injury. Then July 2019 My mom passes away and I turned in my resignation before I could be terminated. Gods hands were all over those 2 years I was in management. I still wonder why because you see I stepped out of HIS WILL to do my own when I applied for the job. God told me “no” and I refused to listen and applied anyway. Even in my disobedience He allowed things to happen to keep me from dealing with issues I was not prepared to deal with. When God told me to write my letter of resignation I obeyed even when I did not have a fool proof financial plan in place yet. This was the hardest step out in faith I had to do. Also walking away from a group home I had worked in for 16 years was so hard as the clients were like family to me. But I obeyed and God opened up so many doors in my life to finish out 2019 strong. Best thing I ever did was walk away from that job. The job as manager was slowly killing me and God saved my life, so to speak.