Looking to God With Heavy Burdens

ALMIGHTY GOD, we give Thee thanks that one who knew Thee well and sought Thee diligently, whose soul panted for Thee as the hart panteth for the water-brooks, declared that “They who looked unto Thee were lightened.” So, laden with the things we would not do, and yet do; and the remembrance of things that we ought to have done, and have left undone; thinking of our sins, and of how many times we have turned from the light, that we might walk in the darkness fitter for. our own evil deeds; thinking of the cares and troubles of this our life, that are too much for some of us; how can we be otherwise than burdened? Hard the work for some of us, scant the means, short the strength, small the courage! We be burdened. The burden of the body at times doth pain us, and the earthly frame doth weigh down the immortal soul, and quench the spirit, until at last our heart is heavy; and when the heart is heavy, all things are burdensome.

Lord God! Thou knowest how many things have been heavy upon us, that would not have been heavy if the heart had been light; help us to carry before Thee that heavy burden of evil-doing, and to look into Thy face and see Thy ceaseless forgiveness, and be lightened. May we carry to Thee all the faults of our lives, and lay them down before Thy judgment and mercy, confident that we shall be lightened. Trusting in Thy guidance, casting our care upon Thee, doing the little best we can, dreading rather those things that issue from us than those things that surround us, may we learn Thy solemn law, and, comparing our poor deeds thereunto, bravely bare our back for the punishment, knowing that if we look unto Thee, we shall be lightened.

And when age brings weakness and weariness, still let our heart be light, that through hope and faith we may look unto Thee, and be lightened. When the shadow of the valley of death is upon us; when those we love pass out of sight; when the eye hath not what it delighted in, and the ear craves for the music that has stopped for ever; when the mother’s tender care looks in vain for its object, and the “nursing-father” has not whereon to spend his passionate love; when we feel the cold shadow upon ourselves; when all things are vague and dim to us, and pleasure and pain taste much alike, help us to look unto Thee, and be lightened; help us all bravely to bear.

In the time of our darkness, let the eternal light shine upon us, and in the hour of death, comfort us by the faithful promises of God. Help us all to look unto Thee, and then grant us to be delivered from all our fears. For, “They looked unto Thee, and were lightened.” This we do ask, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.—AMEN.