“It’s too heavy,” he whined. His little hands strained to lift a fat rough log. He wanted to imitate his grandpa who seemed to hoist them like twigs into a wheelbarrow.
The red cheeks of a five-year-old, his desperate grunts, and unhappy face drew my husband over to help. Grandpa carried one end and together they lifted it onto a pile and into the loaded wheelbarrow. Together they rolled the heavy wood toward the house.
David said in Ps. 37:5, Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (NKJV).
The word “commit” means “to roll off on to” to “roll away,” like children rolling logs down a hill and watching them pick up speed.
God moves the impossible.
Mary Magdalene and “the other” Mary had seen Jesus suffer agony and succumb to a tortuous death. They loved Jesus. The grief and horror of those events must have weighed heavily on their souls and troubled their minds. God Moves the Impossible Click To Tweet
Facing that dark tomb, the women watched Joseph lay the lifeless body of Jesus inside, and then roll a large stone against its gaping darkness.
The finality of that rolling stone would have been so very painful.
Early on the first day of the week, a somber group of women climbed the hill carrying spices to Christ’s tomb. The Jewish custom of anointing a body with fragrances was an act of respect and love. It had a practical purpose as well. It helped offset the smell of decay.
On the way, they remembered the giant stone.
They asked each other, Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us? But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. (Mark 16:3-4 NKJV).
The giant gravestone posed no impediment to either the women or to the One sealed behind it. The women stepped inside an empty tomb.
An older King David, in Psalm 37:5 looked back over his life. He saw how God had attended him in his struggles and how many things He had accomplished. During this year’s Easter preparation, David’s words encourage me to roll off my cares on to the CareTaker.
Commit it to Him. Trust Him to carry it. He will take care of it.
Sometimes I wonder how I will manage weights and cares I cannot move on my own. Sometimes I think things are too hard, too heavy, and I am too weary. But Jesus asks me to peer through the dark and roll those concerns onto Him. He invites me to look into an empty tomb from which a gigantic stone had been rolled away.
The greatness of Christ’s powerful triumph over death still moves in the smallest and biggest details of our lives. There is nothing either too big or too small for Him.
From my kitchen window, I watch the scene as grandpa and grandson push the heavy wheelbarrow of logs. They move forward with a little boy encircled inside arms of one who loves him and has the strength to move what for him alone is impossible. The greatness of Christ’s powerful triumph over death still moves in the smallest and biggest details of our lives Click To Tweet
And I find myself relaxing against my Heavenly Father. I don’t have to carry this burden alone. An empty tomb proves it.
He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. (Mark 16:6 NKJV)
He’s got this.
Nancy E. Head
He does all the heavy lifting. Wonderful encouragement, Sylvia. God bless!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Nancy. Your response encouraged me today too!
Betty Harder
Perfect comments. Just what I needed as I begin another day. Thanks for your thoughts.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you Betty! I’m always honored to hear from you!
Jane Oswald
Thanks Sylvia!!! I found the meaning of “commit” very interesting and encouraging! So encouraged “to roll over” my burdens!
Sylvia Schroeder
Yes, I love that thought too. I have a lot of “roll overs” lately! Thanks so much for reading and commenting Jane!
Anonymous
Loved the story of your little grandson trying to help Grandpa. Praise God we’re encircled in HIS all-powerful-arms. Thank you also for this reminder, Sylvia: “There is nothing either too big or too small for Him.” (Why am I so prone to forget?!)
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks so much! It is a wonderful thought to be encircled by Jesus’ arms, isn’t it? Appreciate you reading and commenting.
Katherine Pasour
“He’s got this!” Oh, yes, Sylvia, He has! Loved your uplifting message and the picture of Grandpa and little boy–beautiful. You shared blessings today–thank you.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Katherine!
Lois S.
So much heaviness this Easter season. So good to be reminded that I do not have to, and in fact cannot, do all the heavy lifting. I am thankful that I have a Heavenly Father who wraps his arms and his power around me to move the rocks that I cannot.
Sylvia Schroeder
Yes, Lois, I feel it too. I am grateful we can roll it off. Sorry about the “anonymous.” Will have to get that checked out. I appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thanks!
Marilyn Nutter
Thank you Sylvia.i loved your last sentence: “He’s got this.” He is bigger than anything in my path.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Marilyn. I need to remind myself often that He is bigger than this!
Brenda Griswold
I had to look up the definition of commit myself in the commentaries and thought, “Wow, Sylvia is so right.” Such a great perspective! I often think when I commit to something, that I am the one carrying the load, but with Christ- I truly “roll the load” onto Him. I love this! I”ll be making a note in my Bible on this one! Keep writing!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Brenda! You are always an encouragement to keep going.
J.D. Wininger
The key is letting God do the work He wants done in our lives, isn’t it my friend? Too often, we want God to do what we want Him to do, not what He wants to do. Those stones, certainly become heavy obstacles until we ask Him to move them away.
Sylvia Schroeder
J.D. wise words there! Oh how often our prayers reflect what we want more than a deep desire for what He wants. Thanks for mentioning that. His will is always best and exactly right.