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At first read, this short verse seems simple. But in reality, it may be one of the most difficult verses to comprehend and apply to our lives. Why? Well, because carrying someone else’s burdens is a complicated job! It requires us to show up, to be there, to use empathy, to be consistent. It requires us to put our guard down a little in order to get in the muck with someone else. And honestly, that’s overwhelming! So, how do we do that well? In other words, how do we do that with good boundaries? By asking for God’s help!

God sent Jesus as the ultimate example of carrying a burden. He did it for us on the cross thousands of years ago, and He does it with us still today. That means we don’t have to wear ourselves thin or take on more than we can bear to help someone else. Instead, we can draw our strength from God Himself, trusting Him to help us help others. When we listen to God’s leading in our lives, we’ll know when it’s time to step in and help or step back and set a boundary. With God, we’re never carrying our burdens (or anyone else’s!) alone.