How to Stop Carrying Everyone’s Burdens

Bob Perry has been praying, and studying the prayer movement, for forty years. He explained that, in the past, when an intercessor had a burden to pray, they would carry the burden forever.

Which meant that they were grumpy people much of the time, because the world always seemed heavy and dark.

But Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” So if we try to carry something that’s too heavy, we’re not in proper alignment with the heart of the Lord.

Whenever I start to feel heavy, I say, Jesus, this is too heavy for me to carry. I’m going to give this to you, because your shoulders are stronger than mine. And since the scripture says, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,” this is actually your job, so I’m handing my sorrow to you.

Then, in my mind, I hand the burden to Jesus.

One of Bob’s mentors, Rosemarie Claussen—mentored by Corrie ten Boom—would tell him, “Every night, give to Jesus every person you’ve interacted with. Otherwise you keep carrying them, and that is too much.”

At Workplace Prayer, we love to pray for our clients. But we try not to keep carrying anyone until we grow fatigued. We carry needs to Jesus, because he is stronger.

So if you are carrying more than you ought; if you continue to carry your clients after they leave; if you take your work home at night: maybe try this experiment.

After every appointment, every call, every sale, say, Jesus, thank you that I had the privilege to share part of this burden. Thank you that you share your heart with me. But I am not strong enough to carry this still, so I am giving it back to you. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you,

Amy Joy

P.S. For one of my favorite stories on this topic, see The Need Is Not the Call.

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