BURDEN
Today's reading: Exodus 1-3

"Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites still groaned beneath their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their pleas for deliverance rose up to God." Exodus 2:23 NLT

Burden-something that is carried; something oppressive or worrisome; duty; responsibility; load.

Our enemy, the great deceiver that he is, would love nothing more than for us to believe we deserve to be oppressed, enslaved, weighed down and worn out.

He likes to play tricks with our minds that tell us we're only living in the mess we've made for ourselves and we shouldn't dare expect help from a loving God.

This roaring lion, who prowls about looking for the slowed down and the broken, only adds to the weight we carry in our hearts and on our shoulders.

He places fear and doubts into our heard and hearts that drown out hope.

He did it to the Israelites through a hard-hearted Pharaoh, ruthless taskmasters, a very long wait and labels of 'slave'.

He does it to us, too.

But when we cry out to God...

When we grow so weary of the struggle that we seek His help...

At the time in our lives when we see our enemy for who he really is...

During the season of our life when we're the lowest, most tired and sorely beaten...

He hears us! Our cries reach His ears! He begins to set into motion relief--whether in the form of a change of circumstances or an overfilling of peace.

He begins to lighten the load when we call out to Him.