"New Mercies for Heavy Hearts"

"What Do You Do When Grief Won't Let Go?"

Some days, memories weigh heavily on our hearts and minds.

Today I woke up to the memory of the day we buried our son five years ago. It was a hot, sunny July day. There was a slight, warm breeze that stirred the leaves on the birch sapling my husband had purchased the day before.

The plan for the day was to gather a few friends and family, since only a few were allowed during the pandemic restrictions, and share memories of our son Benjamin as we buried some of his ashes at the base of the newly planted tree.

We called it Ben’s Birch. - a fitting tribute to our son, who was gone too soon.

Looking back, it seems like so long ago, yet at the same time, it seems like only yesterday. Though I miss my son deeply, life continues to move forward.

A year later, we moved. It wasn’t planned. But the Lord called us across the country to begin a new chapter of our lives. I didn’t want to part with the tree, but I was told we couldn’t take it with us. Leaving it there felt like leaving a piece of our hearts behind.

“Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT

Some memories are hard, but God wants us to give our burdens to him so he can help us carry them. Reminding us that we don’t have to carry our burdens alone.

When life feels heavy, we are tempted to quit. When worry weighs us down, it is easy to think of giving up and becoming discouraged or depressed. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to quit. He encourages us to rest and lay our burdens at his feet.

Once we have rested, we can carry on with our tasks, goals, and missions with renewed strength and vision.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

God loves us even when life places us in overwhelming situations. He calls us to keep going, trusting that His strength and hope will sustain us. God is our purpose and our hope. His mercies are new every morning; we just need to open our hearts to receive them.

Jesus promises us rest. God promises us new mercies. We don’t need to carry the weight of a heavy heart or a worried mind alone.

What burdens are weighing heavily on your heart today? Rest assured, God wants to help carry that burden for you, so you don’t have to bear it alone.