When The Bowl Is Full

My prayer bowl sits in front of me, as a reminder to pray for others.  Today it could be filled to the top with the needs of my family.  And then there are those friends who carry heavy burdens.  Some seasons are like that.  Packed so full of sickness, disease, death, financial struggles, wayward kids, and more.  Yeah.  And I confess that when my own needs are vying for my attention, there are times I struggle not to feel overwhelmed as I think and pray  about the needs of others.

But, you see, we are not meant to carry the burdens of others.  We are meant to encourage, to stand with, to pray for, but not to carry.  Jesus is meant to carry....... He already carried.   He not only carried He suffered.  He died.  He sacrificed His ALL because of His love for us.  We bring the needs of others before Him,, TRUSTING that He fights for them.  TRUSTING His promises.  TRUSTING His death to have meant something.  Everything.  His death meant everything.

We have a close friend, Dan, that we have known since our seminary days.  When Joel and I both were ill with Lyme Disease he would take the time to call, even with his busy schedule as a senior pastor with a family.  He would ask how we were doing and always listen.  A year ago his wife died from cancer.  We were on our own journey ( it has been a year now) and the phone calls between us were brief and not as often, but we knew that his love and prayers continued as did ours for them.  Since Barb's death, we have continued to hear from Dan as he checks in.  He is a true friend indeed.  How can he shift his own grief to pray for others?  It is who he is, but he also does not try to carry the burdens of others.  He TRUSTS Jesus to do that. 

And so must we.  TRUST our Lord to fight for others as we lift them up in prayer.  TRUST our Lord to walk with others on their own journeys of suffering and need.  TRUST our Lord's promises....Trust that He always hears our prayers, never feels overwhelmed, and keeps us ALL in the shelter of His wings. 

At times our prayer bowls are full.........but we empty them at your feet Jesus knowing they are not ours to carry.  In gratitude we remember and TRUST You, Jesus.