Weighed Down

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1–2

People remember the sinking of the RMS Titanic as one of the greatest maritime tragedies of all time. The British ship was thought to meet the highest standard in accommodations, technology, power, and safety. Some of the world’s most prominent people of that time purchased a ticket, traveling first class. At the time of its construction, the Titanic was the largest cruise ship of its kind and was thought to be unsinkable. On April 14, 1912, the ship hit an iceberg, and the impact bent the hull inward, exposing the seams. Water seeped in, weighing down the ship, and caused it to sink and many lives to be lost.

The Christian life can also be weighed down by disappointment, loss, or anguish, causing us to lose hope for our future and sink into despair. For those suffering depression, that weight might have us in dry dock, watching others launch into life. What keeps us weighed down? Is it physical, a chemical imbalance, unforgiveness, bitterness, or something else? Similar to the extravagantly decorated Titanic, we might project a well-decorated appearance. But if our bodies or souls have been breached by external forces, and we aren’t leaning hard into God’s strength and grace, negative thoughts, behaviors, and emotions can threaten to drown us. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to examine our lives and remove anything that impedes our progress.

Unlike the Titanic’s unhappy outcome, when our ship is battered by trials and hardships and when we find our progress slowing—or stopping—we can surrender everything to Jesus Christ and, with his strength and surety, keep sailing ahead.

For you to rise up, you need to give up on that which is constantly pulling you down.

Gift Gugu Mona

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Nelson Mandela

Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.

Charles F. Kettering

For Further Reflection

Matthew 11:28–30; Acts 20:24

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank you for helping me make it this far. Help me see where I am weighed down and be willing to let it go. Thank you that I can press in close to you today. Amen.