On God’s shoulders

Bev and I have four children, all adults now. But, I remember their childhood like yesterday. When they were little and I was strong, I would swing them to my shoulders effortlessly, their little legs straddling my neck, their hands wrapped in my hair. They loved seeing the world from ‘up there.’ I carried them on my shoulders when we were walking through snow or mud, or when we were in a crowd. Perched there, they were safe, fully in the care of their loving Dad. Both of us were delighted!

Take a look at what our Heavenly Father says He will do for you and me! “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. “To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?” Isn’t that rich? Tears of joy pour down my face as I write these worlds… thinking of my Father reaching down to swing me to His shoulders, to carry me through the mud today! Oh, what a thought of Glory. Such love.

But, many people are like the fools which Isaiah describes in the next lines. “Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles. “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels." (Isaiah 46:3-8, NIV) The false gods, the idols of materialism, prestige, sensuality, empty religion – these oppress the worshipper. These idols weigh us down and, for what? They cannot save!

I can no longer hoist my kids to my shoulders! The thought makes me chuckle: Sean at 6 foot, 2 inches on my shoulders! Oh, yes, I still can pick them up emotionally, can pray with them, can listen to them, but gradually my ability to father them is eroding. Our Heavenly Father never loses His strength. He says that He was there when we were infants and He be there when our hair is gray, constantly carrying us on His shoulders.

What’s your burden today, disciple?
What fear weighs you down?
Is there a dreaded situation that makes you feel small, something that you cannot get through alone?

Let Him carry you. Kneel and ask, “Father, would you lift me up to Your shoulders?”
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There is no problem so big,
God cannot solve it.
There is no mountain so tall,
He cannot move it.
There is no storm so dark,
God cannot calm it.
There is no sorrow so deep,
God cannot soothe it.

If He carried the weight of the world
Upon His shoulders,
I know my brother, that He will carry you.
If He carried the weight of the world
Upon His shoulder,
I know my brother, that He will carry you.

He Will Carry You
Scott Wesley Brown© 1982 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
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This thought was inspired by little four line ‘A-ha’ email sent my way this morning by a good friend, Pastor Tim Hoff. Thanks, Tim.

CWTW will be back late next week. I’ll be taking a few days to unstring the bow, to let the Father carry me. If you would ask Him to renew my mind, refresh my heart, restore my soul – I would be deeply grateful!