Dear Northside
In last week’s sermon Pastor Vere highlighted the difference between the burdens we carry and the load we carry. Burdens are heavy and they weigh us down. Have you ever read Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan? I think we have a copy in the church library. It is about a man called Christian (yes, the story is allegory) who, for most of the book, carries around this huge heavy burden. Paul tells us in Galatians, that we are not meant to carry these burdens alone. In fact, we are to carry one another’s burdens. What a wonderful picture! Do you know some carrying a heavy burden? One of the things about burdens is that sometimes we do not recognise we have one, others see it more clearly. So, if you see someone carrying a heavy burden, look for ways to help carry it. If you know you are carrying a burden and no one comes to help you, maybe you need to go to a friend or someone in church and ask them to help you. That takes humility. Let us be humble enough to ask for and accept help carrying our loads.
Something else I think we see in Galatians is that sometimes we are called to simply drop our burdens at the foot of the cross – and leave them there. In Pilgrims Progress this is what Christian does eventually. You see, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.” Sometimes that freedom is to stop carrying our burdens. What burdens are you carrying, that you know Jesus wants you to give to Him? For some reason sometimes, we love our burdens. It does not make sense, but we do. I think it has something to do with our flesh (sinful nature) and Satan loves it when we are carrying heavy burdens that cause us to be weary and anxious.
Are you feeling weary, burdened? Do you need rest?
Rest isn’t just a luxury for the overworked; it’s a deep spiritual need for every believer. In a world that rarely pauses for a break, many pastors, leaders, and congregants alike quietly carry the weight of spiritual fatigue. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus is inviting us to come to Him. He’s offering us a way of life that heals the soul.
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? It means to walk with Jesus, shoulder to shoulder, in rhythms of grace. There is a rest that flows from being near Jesus, where surrender becomes strength and trust replaces anxiety.
Consider these 3 truths:
- We were never meant to carry it all – Jesus offers to share the load.
- Rest is found in His presence, not our performance.
- Spiritual renewal starts with saying yes to the gentle pace of grace.
Are you running on empty? Jesus is calling you to deeper intimacy with the One who restores us from the inside out.
Please do not forget to start preparing to give generously at our annual Harvest Service on the 3rd August.
God bless, Pastor Gary