This is more than I can bear......!!!

I have heard every saying imaginable to men that folks use as a way or means of encouraging themselves whenever they have fallen upon difficult times. Think about what I just said for a minute, whenever times become difficult you can hear these old sayings just drift across the crevasse of your brain; it gets worst before it gets better; you have to go through in order to get to where God wants you to be. How about this one, by the way this is one that I hear most often, are you ready? Okay, here goes, anything worth having is worth fighting for.

I know for me personally understanding and knowing these clichés has proven to be very helpful at times…I think. However, a curious thing that I’ve noticed about these short sayings or clichés is that most of the time these sayings can be traced back to the pages of scripture. Kinda like the saying “This is more than I can bear.” I was visiting with a friend here recently we were sharing our hearts with one another. We were discussing how that the hardest thing to do or accomplish seems to bring about the greatest benefit or change. As we were discussing I thought about the cliché; anything worth having is worth fighting for. However, one of the sad things about these short phrases or cliché is that we use them so often and will not give much thought as to what they really mean or where the cliché itself originated from.

Let me hit you with a definition; a cliché is a phrase or word that has lost its original effectiveness or power from over use. So the saying “more than I can bear” has tied to its meaning, deep biblical truth. And I think this phrase is worth investigating. Let me put some biblical context with this cliché in particular that will help you see the images that pop into my head whenever I hear this commonly used phrase being quoted. Check this verse out Hebrews12:1-2“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” So when I hear folks say, Pastor “This is more than I can bear.” I began to picture the words of this verse flashing in my minds eye. And when I do that, I get a vivid picture of Jesus our Savior enduring the suffering of Calvary’s Cross. Blood dripping from his brow from the crown of thorns pressed into his head. There is also blood spewing from his back and all over his body from the beating he endured from the leather strap, with the metal pieces on the end tip of the strap. I can also see sweat dripping off his body just from the shear weight of bearing this cross, this tree mind you. Dirt and mud was smeared all over his body, because he fell to the ground so many times. Again this cross was heavy even for a man who spent most of his life carving up these same trees finishing up projects assigened to him by his step father. Remember Jesus was raised and trained by his step father who was a carpenter. That tree he carried it with the strength of his back and legs. Remember Jesus was strong and also very physical he was raised on the country side where the belief was if a man didn't work he shouldn't eat. Ultimately this tree would be the tool used to crucify him with. Yet he kept marching up Golgotha’s hill step by step. And get this according to the verse above he did it with Joy……Wow that’s just so incredible to ponder. According to the text, Jesus was able to endure, bear such suffering because of the change his suffering would bring about for himself and also the World. You see his death and resurrection made him Lord of all, and it also made it possible for us to become God’s children. So the next time you find yours self using the cliché “This is more than I can bear.” I want you to ask yourself the following questions;

· Can God be Glorified as I endure THIS suffering: What is THIS for you. Are you suffering because a bad choice you made or a choice someone else made. At the end of the day more important than you and your suffering is God and his Glory. Hard to digest when you’re suffering but truth is often difficult to digest.

· Can other’s benefit from this suffering I am enduring: You see I find it curious that when suffering comes we are so quick to get angry or upset. But Jesus with all the strength in the universe in a single word could have said “Father make this all stop.” But he doesn’t. Why? Because he knew that you and I would benefit greatly because of his shame.

· What areas in my life are being strengthened because of my suffering: I know we are not Jesus. But we are in the process of being conformed into the image of Jesus. So, what is the best way to produce Christ image in us? Suffering.

· Is there a part of my suffering that will essentially lead to greater Joy: God created us as creatures who love to have and experience real joy? Ultimately the best way to get full joy is to put ourselves in positions where we can give without expecting anything in return. Let me give you an example of how this works out in real life. Jesus experienced Optimum Joy primarily because he offered his life as a sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross. You see Jesus was able to do for you and I what we could not do for ourselves. And this caused Jesus Joy level to shoot through the roof.

So the next time you find yourself uttering the phrase “This is more than I can bear...” Just focus your mind on JESUS. I think by doing this, you will have an entirely different point of view of the cliché “This is more than I can bear….”