Carrying Love, Not Mountains

• By candidasullivan
• December 11, 2024
• No Comments

I once heard something that stood out: “What if we are trying to carry the mountain that we are just supposed to climb?”

It made me stop and think about my life. I often make things harder on myself because I try to do God’s job, think I can fix people when I need to love them, and then work on myself. I get overwhelmed because I try to control things beyond my control. I try to carry other people’s crosses and neglect my own.

However, when I focus on myself and what I need to change in my life, I can see how to help someone else. Anytime, however, that I feel the need to magnify someone else’s sins, I need to stop and look at myself.

Love forgives, is patient, is kind, is understanding, is compassionate, and is unconditional.

If I feel anything other than those things, I just need to examine myself.

So often, when I think someone else should do something, it is really me who should do something. If I see someone else struggling, I must pray for those hurting and seek God’s help. Putting my foot on them while they are already down is not walking in God’s love.

An excellent example of this is Stephen in the Bible. Stephen’s story is a beautiful example of love, even in the face of death. They stoned him to death, but instead of lashing out at them in anger, he asked God not to lay the sin to their charge. Even as they were causing him extreme pain and taking his life, he extended God’s love to them. Stephen could have hated them for what they had done to him at that moment, but he chose to love instead.

Acts 7:60 (KJV)
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The enemy makes us think we must carry the mountain and fix everything ourselves. He wants us to become overwhelmed and angry with others. God, however, wants us to love them. Sometimes, loving them means that we need to pray for them and wish them well. Every day, we get to choose how we are going to respond. I want to respond with God’s amazing love.

I believe that when I walk in God’s amazing love, I can climb the mountain and even enjoy the journey along the way.