Oversized Load



Are you carrying an Oversized Load?  Can OTHERS see YOU coming "a mile away?"



On Monday morning I was headed to school, which takes about 20 minutes (on good "traffic" days.)  As soon as I "hopped on" the freeway, I saw one of these trucks....flags on each side of the front, lights flashing, with a rather large sign "advertising" OVERSIZED LOAD.   At first, I thought nothing much about it, only feeling prompted to take a "mental note" that I had seen one.   Low and behold, a few minutes later, there was ANOTHER ONE!   I began to think, "Hmmm...I wonder if God is trying to tell me something this morning??"  (see, lately I had been telling Him how I felt this heavy burden, and couldn't seem to "get rid of it."   Hmmm...."This could be more than a coincidence," I began to think.  So...that got my thoughts rolling.  And here's a few "mental notations" that were going through my mind as I was on my way to school:

Whenever we're feeling heavy-hearted, or extremely burdened, how do others see us?  Do we make it a POINT for others TO see us?  Or do we "quietly wait on the Lord?"  Do they see us with our faces drooped, lips rolled out, shoulders hung forward?  Do they hear us sighing from all the pressure?  Can they "see us coming a mile away?"  What signals are we giving off?  Do we scream, "OVERSIZED LOAD" wherever we go?  Hmmm.  I felt my toes beginning to crunch up in my shoes at this point (and I was wishin' I had me some steel toes on---'cuz they "was 'bout to get stepped on." Can I get a "witness??") LOL

Why is it that we DO FIND ourselves carrying this oversized load in the first place?  Did we just go over to that big old "pile of burdens" and pick it up gladly?   Probably not.  Maybe someone placed it on us, and we're having to deal with feeling *bitterness or resentment* towards that person.  (*Those are "a-whole-nother" type of heavy burdens that not only weigh us down, but also eat us up from the inside-out.)   Maybe we picked up this burden, without ever realizing it WAS going to BECOME a burden to us in the first place.  And here we are, carrying that OVERSIZED LOAD.  Ugh.

Wow!  We THOUGHT we needed tires!  But NOT THAT BIG!!! 
Now, what ARE we going to DO WITH THESE ANYWAY!?  Oh boy!

Could it be that the Lord has placed this burden upon us?  "Wait a minute, Tam!  God doesn't WANT us to be weighed down with burdens, right?  So why would HE place a burden on us?"  Well, remember:  He had to TELL US to "Come to me, all you who are weary and what??   Um.. BURDENED!   And I will give you what?    REST!"  He had to TELL US THAT, basically REMIND US, because HE KNOWS it's not our nature to just go to someone and say, "I can't do this anymore."  We tend to be independent, and just keep on trudging along, under the enormous weight.   After all, "what will others think if I cave in?  Will I be viewed as 'weak'?"   Jesus had to tell us to come to Him, because He knows it's just not in our nature to do that.  Thank God that HE seeks US OUT!  

"He has come to seek and to save that which was lost."  Luke 19:10

Since He may have placed the burden upon us to TEACH US TO COME TO HIM and trade our burden for HIS yoke, maybe this experience will teach us to TRUST HIM.  He will prove Himself to be All-Sufficient.  "Jesus is Amply Sufficient."  (I've been saying that this week, when things get to be "too much.")  Besides, another reason He "may" have placed this burden (or ALLOWED IT) is to teach us to trust in HIS strength and NOT OUR OWN!



"...My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength
is made perfect in weakness."   2 Cor. 12:9



He wants us to LEARN how to rejoice in EVERYTHING.. So if we're carrying these huge "warning flags" around with a big "sign" saying, "OVERSIZED LOAD," others will not see the VICTORIOUS LIFE that Jesus has already GIVEN US. ok...I can't feel my toes now! sigh



"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world."  John 16:33



So, by this time, all these thoughts were going through my mind, and before I knew it, I was at the stop light getting ready to turn onto the road where the campus is.  You won't believe this, but when I came to my senses and looked ahead of me, there, sitting in front of me at the stoplight was yet ANOTHER big ole truck saying none other than:  "OVERSIZED LOAD!"   Yep.  That was definitely Divinely Orchestrated~~and when something is Divinely Orchestrated, it's to teach me a lesson---BUT---it's up to ME to DO something about it.  God was trying to GET MY ATTENTION!  "Tammi, quit carrying that oversized load!   No more Oversized Load.  Go ahead and trade it in for the Pure SON-shine-made OJ---being OverJoyed!"   

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me;
 yet not my will, but yours be done."  Luke 22:42

"Okay, Father, I got the message.  Now, I'm here....trading in all the flags, warning lights, and big signs.  I'm afraid that some of the "warning flags" and "oversized signs" that are attached to me have already rusted. . so it's not easy for ME to remove them.  Please apply the annointing oil of Your Holy Spirit to smoothly remove things in my life that advertise an unvictorious and burdened life.  I'm not sure what You'll give me in return---except a joyful heart, and a SpRiNg in my step!   Thank You so much for allowing me to see these truths, even in all the construction around here!  And before I forget, thank You, Jesus, for bearing the heaviest burden~~one BIG burden that mankind doesn't have to bear, if only we trust in YOU.  That burden is SIN.  Thank YOU for bearing that one all the way to the cross for us!  We love and appreciate You.  In Jesus' Name, Amen."



P.S.  Another thing He reminded me on Monday, that I completely forgot to mention when I wrote this last night~~Whenever one of those "oversized load" trucks are on the interstate, it tends to hold up traffic behind it---because NO ONE can PASS IT~~~There's just not enough space...and if we DO try to pass it, it's always with "fear and trembling."  Hmmm.  When we're feeling overloaded and complain about our burdens, that could cause a "hold up" in another brother or sister's life---they may not be able to get past something in their lives.  Whatever WE DO affects others somehow.  So....it's up to US to D.O. something about this "Divinely Orchestrated" lesson, OK?  :o)