Take It to the Lord in Prayer

Although you may be very familiar with this song, force yourself to slow down and read the words out loud so that you might grasp their full meaning.

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

So often we take burdens upon ourselves that we cannot bear.  We are encumbered about with weights that keep us from running this race as we ought. Oh, some are good things--great things even--but they hinder us, they discourage us, they trouble us.  There are those burdens that come in the forms of trails and tribulations.  Friends despising and forsaking us.  Any sort of trial.  But it drags us down into the pit of discouragement.

This was not how the Christian life was meant to me. We weren't meant to be burned by the cares of this world or even by the commands of Christ. They were not meant to be burdensome.

We must run to Christ.

Lay our burdens down at the precious feet of Jesus. He is our refuge.  He will, in His arms, shield us from the influences of the world. He will give us grace for the things He has asked us to do.

He will grant us a peace that surpasses all understanding.

But we must come to Him in prayer.

We must ask Him for it.  James 4:3 says, "Yet you do not have because you do not ask."

What burden are you carrying?  

Why haven't you taken it to the throne of grace and laid it at His feet? He is willing to carry it, but because He loves you, He won't (in most circumstances) take it from you forcefully.  

Take Israel for example.    

"To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,”  And, “This is the refreshing”;

Yet they would not hear" (Isaiah 28:12).

Will you come to Him? Will  you bring your burden before Him and rest in His presence. You must offer that which encumbers you freely to Him. Let us not become discouraged, but run to the Lord in prayer.  Let us invite Him to work in our lives.  And He will, my friend, He will.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."