Heavy-Duty Load

I'm almost certain every one of us has some heavy duty happening in our life that changed our "normal cycle" remarkably.  The diagnosis of cancer, the death of a loved one, the end of a long-term relationship, or even the loss of a dream.  Whatever form it takes, the blow to life is heavy, as are the rippling effects that follow.  "Rippling" probably isn't a good description.  Tidal wave may be more like it.  Because once it happens, you know life just isn't going to be the same.  Or maybe you don't feel it at that moment, but later on down the road, you find yourself thinking, "When did it get this bad?" or "Will life ever get back to normal?"  Perhaps it started out as a ripple, but over the days or months or years, you suddenly feel as if a tidal wave has overcome you.

I recall the feeling of standing on the beach when a wave hits me.  Sometimes the water comes so strong and is so cold that it just takes your breath away.  We all have moments like that.  Or sometimes, others around you have moments like that, and we experience and feel the uninvited aftershocks.  Just as a drop of water has rippling effects ... so do our choices and the choices of others around us.

The heavy-duty loads are those articles of clothing that are tough - jeans for example.  Towels, blankets, or rugs ... stuff that takes a lot of work to take the filth out, either because the dirt is so worked in, or the material can just handle the extra beating. We put items through the heavy-duty cycle because it needs it, or we know it can take it. 

Regarding our lives, God doesn't throw us into heavy-duty situations, but, rather, he is there with us as we go through them.  Even though we may not think so, God knows the fabric of our being and how much we can take.  And with Him, we can take on more than we think.  What heavy-duty load are you carrying? 

Are you feeling like you've been thrown in the heavy-duty cycle?  Let's be careful not to blame God.  Instead, cling to Him ever more tightly and allow some of that deep work to be done.