No, for once, not the weight on a scale . . . but the weight on your shoulders.
My life has been feeling heavy lately. I've been feeling oppressed and alone and you know what? I KNOW it's not just me.
I see it.
In your eyes.
Life is overwhelming for many people right now. And you know and I know, it's more than the economy . . . it's more than illness or grief or family problems.
There's just a black cloud that's perpetually floating over our respective heads. No matter what you've been trying to do and no matter how hard you try, you can't get out from under it.
Does it help you to know that it's not just you? Because it isn't.
Prophets of old foretold of our day. They said,
"When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
And it shall turn to you for a testimony. . .
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
In your patience possess ye your souls. . . .
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. . . .
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. . .
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. . . .
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21)
"When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
And it shall turn to you for a testimony. . .
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
In your patience possess ye your souls. . . .
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. . . .
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. . .
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. . . .
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21)
The beauty is that the Lord has also provided us with prophets and apostles today who know how hard it is and know the heaviness we feel. They let us know that it's okay to acknowledge our misery and loneliness, and let the Lord know our woes.
Then they give us the hope and strength to move forward. They testify to us that the bleak tunnels we currently find ourselves in will eventually lead to daylight, even if we can't see it just yet.
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