At the end of his life, Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened!’

Churchill was speaking about the burden of worries that never materialize.

However, there are many different types of ‘burdens’ in our lives that are very real, and quite frightening. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you… and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ Matthew 11:28–30

The Psalmist said, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalm 55:22

Peter would write and declare, “Casting all your care (burdens) upon the Lord, for He careth for you.” I Peter 5:7

I love the way Eugene Peterson translates Jesus’ words in The Message Version: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I will show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’ Matt. 11:28–30

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace! There is perhaps not a more powerful statement for us right now, “learn the unforced rhythms of grace!” Jesus does not lay anything ill-fitting upon His children – you and me! When we keep company with Him we learn to walk in the gait of His unforced love and move in the rhythm of His ever-present grace.

Anxiety, Failure, Injustice, Sin, and Guilt are five burdens we are not equipped to carry, nor should we. Jesus came, lived, died, and rose again to conquer our anxieties and lift from us the burdens of Adam’s sin-shame. God empowers us to run our race in the unforced rhythm of His divine grace, which includes running without carrying the weights that would so easily beset us. When we persevere and endure, when we overcome and continue to climb, there is no terrain we cannot traverse and there is no hill we cannot ascend and there is no height we cannot attain – for we run in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to finish well and receive the prize that awaits us – the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give us on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for us, but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing!” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

So, run to finish well. Run strong. Run long. Run to endure. Run with patience. Run faithfully. Run gracefully. RUN!