Carry Your Share of the Load

As a 12 year old I considered my grandad to be superman. He had such a zest for life I enjoyed working with him. One summer workday involved building a fence. My goat and his cows found too many ways through the old one. We worked all morning digging fence post holes, and taming them in tightly. By min-morning we had worked our way down to the corner and stopped to take a breather. The entire time under a big shade tree I had thought about the extra large corner post and how we could set it. Thinking about such a challenge caused me to sweat more than the work.

Finally, grandpaw said, “Come on, boy, let’s set the corner post. You pick up your end and I will be behind you picking up my end.”

Knowing the limitations of my 12 year old muscles and the size of that post I hesitated, but grandpaw said let’s do it so I struggled with my end and to my amazement we did it, we set the corner post. The rest of the day I marveled over my might. There was an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and a surge of youthful ego. In the early afternoon it dawned one me. When I picked up my end grandpaw picked up his “end” in the middle.

That is the way it is with the Lord. When there is a task, or burden He wants us to bear, if you will pick up your end you can be assured He will pick up His end in the middle. It is He who works in you both to will and to DO.

When compelled there is a task God wills for you to do, you can be confident and rely on Him to do His part, always has, and always will.

You can be confident and “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41: 10)

God works in us in order that He might work through us.

Consider what you think God wants you to do. Focus on it, the challenge and outcome. Now, contemplate what you think He wants you to do as your part to achieve the best result. What part do you think He will do to enable you to achieve the right end?

Then “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16: 3)

Then you can say with the Psalmist: “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” (Psalm 18:32)

Often our self-confidence fails us. Have confidence in the Lord for He never fails us. Depend on His strength. It will strengthen you. Go ahead, pick up your end. Guess who is on the other end having picked up His “end” in the middle?