Bearable Burdens

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (ESV)

Have you ever been in a situation that you just felt was unbearable?

The Apostle Paul had what he called his “thorn in the flesh.” In 2 Corinthians 12, it’s described how Paul pleaded with the Lord on three occasions for relief.

But, there was none to be found. Instead of the thorn of the flesh being removed, the Lord brought a means for him to bear up under it: His grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (ESV)

Paul asked for relief; He got grace instead.

Why would God choose to put us in situations or circumstances that would seem humanly impossible? Because they are humanly impossible, which allows His grace to be all the more possible.

His grace is made perfect, or complete, in the area of our life that is weak.

He gives us the grace to bear it. To bear up under it.

This is a “bearable burden.”

Here is the key question–am I bearing the burden that He has called me to bear? Jesus said for us to come to Him all who are weary and heavy laden and that He would give us rest. How? For His yoke is easy and his burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

It would be otherwise impossible.

But, God’s grace–at the exact point of the predetermined burden God has prepared for you–is made perfect, which makes all things possible.

This is a “bearable burden.”

This is a faith builder.

When we bear the burden God has given us through Christ by His grace, it is our faith in Him that is built up.

What glory!

And that glory is transformational. Instead of us being in a place of ease and strength, we are in a place of discomfort and weakness. Instead of being easy, it is challenging–not as a punishment, but as a privilege. It is a privilege to bear the burden that Christ has given you to bear.

Hebrews 12:2 charges us to take a stance of “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (NIV) The Greek word for “fixing our eyes” is “aphorao.” This is defined as “to look away from one thing so as to see another.” i

Here is the challenge, we have to look away at times from other things in order to fix our eyes on Jesus. Our brain is not meant to concentrate on more than one thing at a time. That is being double-minded, which leads to instability (James 1:8).

So, what are we looking to the Lord for as it relates to a “bearable burden”? We are looking to Him for His grace. We have a grace-filled expectation. He will not disappoint if we look to Him in faith for His grace.

His glory comes in like a flood at the moment of His grace being completed in your area of weakness. Weakness in Greek is “astheneia.” It simply means “lacking strength.”ii

There are times when God provides an exit from a trial. There are other times that you have to rely on His grace to be perfected in that area you are “lacking strength.”

There is a real challenge here. There are times or situations where you could handle it in your own strength, but you would have missed His moment of glorious grace. His grace that comes in like a flood. His grace reminds you that you can do nothing of yourself.

You may handle things your own way, but in the end, you would have missed a moment of God’s glorious grace invading your space.

And it is that moment, that he transforms us into His image. He is taking the trial and using it as a means of our transformational growth.

We grow in grace.

Step by step.

Amen.

i Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the New Testament

ii Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the New Testament