Let Go of Your Backpack!

I was preparing for Sunday’s message this past week (we are going through the Gospel of John on Sunday Mornings), and studying John chapter 10, God had me do a little research on sheep since this is how we are referred to in this chapter (and elsewhere in scripture).

“Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

Psalm 100:3 NASB2020

“All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all To fall on Him.”

Isaiah 53:6 NASB2020

“So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

John 10:7-9 NASB2020

And in my research, there weren’t any sheep who carrying loads. We see donkeys, and horses, and camels, and Oxen carry loads, but not sheep.

Sheep are not designed to carry heavy loads.

There was a man I knew who was losing weight, but wanted to continue to burn the same calories while walking, so he put weight in a backpack for when he was walking to equal what he lost. As his weight loss grew, this became harder and harder. He didn’t realize just how much weight his body was carrying until he had to carry over 70 pounds in a backpack.

We as humans accumulate burdens which we bear, and we may not realize just how heavy those burdens are until we let them go. We are not created to carry these burdens, we are supposed to hand them over to Jesus.

““Come to Me, all 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 comfortable, and My burden is light.””

Matthew 11:28-30 NASB2020

Jesus wants us to cast our burdens on Him.

He wants us to remove those heavy backpacks we carry around and leave them with Him. We are not meant to carry them, so let’s let them go, so that we can be free to do the things He is calling us to do, and to be the people He is calling us to be!

Lord, it is so hard to let go of the baggage we carry. Sometimes we even carry it as a trophy. But You have told us to cast our burdens on You that we might find rest for our souls. Help us to do that. Help us to release those to You, that we might have the peace and freedom that is available to us! In Jesus’ name we pray.