Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. Psalm 55:22 NLT

Sherpa guides came to mind when I read this verse.  I imagined myself climbing a perilous Himalayan peak, fastened tightly to my guide.  Using only climbing poles, my back enjoyed being weight free. If the ascent particularly challenged me, I would follow behind my Sherpa guide as he led the way. Other times, I walked beside him, all the while securely attached to my moving stronghold.

Isn’t that a picture of how our life is to be? No anxiety should burden us if we have cast them onto our Guide, the Holy Spirit. Paul addresses this reality in his letter to the Philippians. Because the Lord is near, we are privileged to keep handing over all worries.

Wouldn’t it be a stupid sight to behold, a mountain climber loaded down with all his heavy baggage and struggling to keep up with the Sherpa guide not carrying a thing?

Musing, I continued. If I were so unburdened, what could I think about?  For one, I could look up and enjoy creation, noticing God’s variety. That would lead me to praise Him for His beauty. Then, still burden-free, I could start listing all the spiritual blessings that belong to me based on His promises and His unchanging character. For sure there’d still be plenty of time to pray for others, that they too would offload worries and troubles onto Jesus, our burden bearer.