Grin And Let God Bear It

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.

Have you ever been in a season where margin feels minimal, responsibilities are burdensome, and any small shift in your daily schedule leads to a giant headache? Maybe you’re in a low-margin season right now, dog-paddling to keep your head above water. Perhaps you expected this season to be filled to the brim and tried to prepare for it, bracing for the onslaught of stress, but now you’re realizing that even careful preparation won’t make this less grueling to walk through.

I’m in one of those seasons myself right now. I knew this time would be jam-packed, so I planned, prepped, and made adjustments, hoping to alleviate stress. In spite of all my efforts, however, each day is still exhausting, draining, and at times discouraging. I would like this season to be over yesterday, but our family still has to face weeks of shifting schedules, mounting pressures, and a disrupted rhythm.

In times like these, I see how quick I am to try to build my hope on consistency, comfort, and control. When God brings an earthquake to my unrealistic expectations and faulty foundations, the cracks in my faith are exposed. That’s when I have the opportunity to rebuild on Christ alone.

When my husband, Greg, and I were planning for this season, we tossed the phrase “I guess we’ll have to grin and bear it” at each other, trying to assuage our weary hearts. As the days and weeks have progressed and our shifty foundation has been tested, I no longer believe we have to grin and bear it. Rather, we get to grin and let God bear it.

Psalm 68 records King David’s song of praise to God, who delivers his people, leads them, and provides for them. Rather than looking inward to find help and security, David looked upward for rescue. In verse 19, he praised God, saying, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.” When life feels unbearable, God bears us up.

The Hebrew word for bear means to “carry a load.”^a As a compassionate father, God carries us through hardship, taking on the burdens that bear down on our hearts, and bringing us to a place of rest. He doesn’t just bear us up once or twice; he mercifully carries us every moment of every day. Not only does God hold us in his capable arms, but he does so joyfully (see Isaiah 41:10; 46:4; Ephesians 1:3). Knowing we are not a burden to him, we can grin in the face of busyness and stress, confident of God’s presence and provision (see Psalm 13:5-6; 126:3).

As you walk through stressful seasons, when you are stretched on all sides, you can bless the Lord, who bears you up. Instead of trying to endure on your own strength and grit, grin and let God bear it. He gives power and strength to his people (see Psalm 68:35), and that includes you and me.

Word before World When you face a stressful season, you don’t have to muster up your own strength to make it through. You can trust God, who will bear you up and sustain you each day.

Grow in Grace What burdens are you carrying right now that you weren’t created to bear? Read Psalm 68:19, and insert your name in the verse. Then hand over your burdens to our gracious, powerful God.