Heavy Father! Please Help Me!

Over the past 16 years that my husband and I have been married, my father in law has taken a lot of joy in telling me about the time that he and my husband, Jasper, were at the grocery store. I believe Jasper was 2 or 3 at the time, and he was insistent that he was going to carry the gallon of milk. My father in law placed the gallon of milk on the floor and watched as his little boy tried with all his might to lift the gallon of milk.

After several tries, and no success, Jasper finally looked to his father and said, “Hebby Daddy. Hebby Daddy. Help me.” With a laugh, my father in law gladly picked up the gallon of milk that his young son was unable to carry- and honestly, it wasn’t meant for him to carry.

As I think about this story, I was drawn to Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I think we can all imagine how cute it would be to watch a determined 2 or 3 year old try to carry a gallon of milk to the front of the store, especially because we all know it wouldn’t happen. Jasper was not physically able to carry that milk, and as long as he stood there trying to carry something that he was never meant to carry, he remained stagnant.

Sometimes, I think we also make the same attempts that mirror a 2/3 year old child trying to carry a gallon of milk. How often do we try to carry things that were never meant for us to carry and remain stagnant, instead of stopping and saying, Heavenly Father, today I give to you what I cannot bear, what I cannot carry.”

We were not made to carry all the burdens this life has, no matter how big or small they may be, and Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest. The solution is quite simple, but one that requires the faith to say, “Heavy Father. Heavy Father. Please help me.”