Too Much

When we take stock of what lies ahead of us, it can seem to be overpowering.  And, it may be, in fact, too much to handle as we consider the cost, the level of difficulty or the sheer volume of what we are called to face.

Just consider the cost of raising a child to the age of 18, which according to The Wall Street Journal is $245,340 (not adjusting for inflation) for one born in 2013.  If you have more than one child, do the math and think about earning the money needed to get the kids through high school.  Oh, and let's not forget the cost of college just to add the implausible to the impossible.

Now, think about all the hours, days, weeks, months and years you will put in on the job between starting to work and the day you retire, if you can afford to retire.  Consider all that will be required of you, all you will have to produce, all the people you will have to deal with, all the headaches that lie ahead.  And don't me started about lay offs, new job starts, retraining, and starting over.

What about all the challenges of building a marriage and family?  Or, all the gauntlets your kids will throw down before you, especially as they enter teen years?  And why not throw in house remodeling, auto repairing and computer upgrading - just to name a few of the constant variables.

There are much more and much more difficult things that lie ahead like failing health, deaths of loved ones, loss of jobs, relocating, failed marriages, blended families and storms of life that can boggle the mind.  It's all enough to cause the richest and wisest man in history, King Solomon, to lament, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless" (Eccl 1:2).  In other word, "It's just all too much!"

The whole of life is just too much, seemingly impossible and yet Jesus promises, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, nothing is impossible for you" (Matt 17:20).  The reason being is that while many things may be impossible for man, "With God all things are possible" (Matt 19:26).

I'm not saying that all things will be easy or even desirable, but I am saying that nothing is going to come your way that you and God can't handle.  Even too much is not so much when turned over to God and allowing him to bless us the way he wants.

Listen to the call of God's Son, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30).  Jus' Say'n.