(The following post is by Julie McCrum, and is the summary of a lesson shared
at our home church, Stanley Heights Baptist Church)

Each one of us who have trusted the Lord has a different calling or burden from Him, something He wants us to accomplish in this life. The Lord gives grace to each one to do what He has called us to do…and it’s not so bad!

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
~ Matthew 11:28-30 ~

Last year I was blessed to attend a ladies’ camp, where I heard an old (in her nineties) missionary lady, Louise Champlin, give her testimony. She had grown up as a missionary kid in the Congo, and later served the Lord with her husband in Suriname, South America. Boy, did she have the stories! In one of these she told how after arriving in the Congo, her mother passed away. The next day, the native people came to talk to her father about salvation, because, “we see you don’t fear death.” She recalled another time, when by God’s power, her quiet, tender-footed husband walked on hot coals unburned, as he challenged a local witch doctor’s power. Hearing her stories, I was tempted to think, “Wow, she’s a real missionary! She really gave up a lot for the Lord and His work.” But, you know when speaking with her later, I didn’t get that sense at all. She spoke as though all those adventures were just “reasonable service,” (Romans 12:1).

Tanya is a lady in our church in South Africa whose husband has recently been called into full time ministry. She and I went for coffee one day, and as we were discussing the challenges and joys of being a pastor’s wife, she said to me, “Julie, you’re so brave!” But I don’t feel so brave. Being a missionary wife in South Africa is what the Lord has called me to do, and He has prepared me for it in a hundred ways. I am just a girl, like any of you reading this blog, who is following the Lord by His grace. Jesus told us that His burden is light. The things He calls us to do are not so bad. In fact, we find our greatest joy in doing His will!

As women, I think we are especially prone to compare ourselves to each other. We think, “Her life looks so hard! I could never…” But the Lord didn’t ask you to live her life. He asks you to live yours. He has given her all the grace she needs to do what He’s called her to do, and He’s given you all the grace you need to do what He’s called you to do (2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for thee…”).

I have another friend who recently transitioned from being an evangelist’s wife to a pastor’s wife in a local church. I thought she would be glad to finally have a “home.” But as we chatted, I realized that she was actually struggling with a bit of boredom…I mean, the same church every week! She’ll find her feet, I know, but my point is that she was perfectly suited to being an evangelist’s wife… something I think, “I could never…” If I’m honest, I would feel a little bored and out of place if the Lord ever called us back to the USA. I mean, running water and electricity every day? Where’s the challenge in that?!

So what should you do with these verses and stories I’ve been sharing?

• First, try not to compare yourself to others. It rarely helps, as you can never really know the burdens that another lady might be carrying, or the journey that brought her to where she is.

• Second, don’t feel sorry for those who seem to be doing something hard. In Acts 20: 24, Paul has just told his friends that he is headed for Jerusalem, and he knows trials are waiting for him along the way, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul said that the trials were nothing compared to the joy of spreading the gospel and doing God’s will for his life. The Lord had given him special grace to endure those things…with joy! If your friend whose life looks scary to you is walking with the Lord, she is probably happy and fulfilled. Don’t feel sorry for her!

• Third, don’t feel sorry for yourself, either. I mean this in the kindest possible way, but really, ladies, the Lord has prepared you with the exact experiences and gifts you need in order to do what He’s called you to do. So rely on His abundant grace, and do it. You will find great joy in doing so.

• Fourth, let me encourage you, especially if you are a young person, with all your big decisions ahead of you: trust Him with your life. You will never regret it! Maybe putting your “all on the altar” sounds too scary…will you ever have any fun?! I’m telling you, His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. The burden is not nothing, but it’s not so bad, either. You can do it, by His grace.

In conclusion, I want to challenge all of us today to believe what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 11:28-30. Whatever your burdens may be: endless laundry, busy schedule, financial strain, health issues… lift up your eyes from those things and look to the Savior. He said His burden is light. He said we could find rest for our souls. Let’s choose to trust Him today, and serve Him with joy in the place where He’s called us.