Does the world ever seem to big? Life's troubles seem to mount up until there is just no end to the frustration? Maybe it is because we are trying to carry our problems on our own. Allow me to relate a story from the Old Testament.
Many of us know the story of the children of Israel wondering around in the desert for forty years. They lived as Nomads with tents, camels, etc. They also had a special tent that was reserved for the worship of Jehovah. There was a special box called the Ark of the Covenant that went with them wherever they roamed. It was kept veiled behind a curtain until it was time to move. Then there were special instructions about how to carry it. The priests had to carry it by hand. There were rings on the Ark and poles inserted through these rings. Four priests would gather around this ark and carry it on their shoulders.
I heard this story all my life in Sunday School but never realized the miracle behind it until I heard someone explain it. The box was only about 3ft 9 in by 2 ft 3 in. It wasn't that big. But there was a solid gold lid on this ark. There are different estimates but some say that the lid alone weighed several hundred lbs. So imagine this - four men carrying a big wooden box, covered in gold, with a solid gold top through the desert heat. How utterly impossible! How could four men carry a box weighing between three hundred fifty and six hundred lbs on their shoulders at all, let alone in the desert heat. But this is where the miracle comes in.
You see the presence of God surrounded the Ark of the Convenant. When the camp was set up the cloud representing God's glory hovered over the Ark. When it was moved, the presence of God was with it. The answer to the riddle is in the presence of God. When the priests, acting according to God's command, stepped up and picked up the box, it lifted. The presence of God made the Ark light enough for those four men to carry it.
The application for us today is simple. If you feel you have a burden to big to carry, give it to Jesus. His presence will make your burden light. He is big enough to carry both you and your burden and never get tired. When you are going through a battle you might have to have a few more prayer meetings but that is what trials are for - to make us spiritually stronger. The extra prayer will serve you well. On the other side of the trial you will realize God carried you the whole way through.
He is a big God! Give him your burdens today and just see how much better you feel!
Trusting Jesus Daily,
Sullivan Jones