READ: PSALM 55:22; MATTHEW 11:28-30; 1 PETER 5:7

Have you ever had an ache or pain that wouldn’t go away? It can be utterly exhausting—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I experienced this when I was pregnant with my son. Especially in the last few months of pregnancy, my belly was HUGE. It was so big that people wouldn’t believe me when I told them I still had a couple months until my due date, and they would often ask if I was having twins. When my son was born weighing just shy of ten pounds, nobody was surprised.

Those last few months of pregnancy were miserable. Pain constantly shot through my back and legs from supporting the weight of my gigantic belly. No matter how I stood or sat or laid down, I was always uncomfortable. And I was tired of it.

One day, in the midst of this pain and exhaustion, my husband and I went on a mini-getaway and decided to go swimming in the pool. The water was cold, but I gave it a try anyway.

And as I slowly stepped down into the pool, I felt relief seep through my body for the first time in months. The water lifted the weight of my belly, and the pressure on my back eased. I took a step, and no pain ran through my leg. Standing in the cold water, I nearly cried with relief.

For about an hour, I paced back and forth in that small pool, the weight of my belly finally lifted. And I felt Jesus walking alongside me, carrying my burden of pain and exhaustion. I felt His arms around me, holding the weight I had been carrying for so long. He reminded me that I can trust Him with any burden. He knew my pain (in fact, I had told Him about it several times over the past few months, often quite loudly). And He wanted me to give Him my burdens.

I’ve known for a long time that I can give my burdens to Jesus. But when I walked in the pool, I felt that truth in my very body. He was with me in my pain, offering hope and comfort and strength. I needed to be reminded of that, and Jesus graciously met my need.

No matter what burden you are carrying, He is with you. He died and rose again to be with you. And He is strong enough to carry the heaviest of burdens. • Taylor Eising

• What burdens are you carrying right now? Consider taking a moment to give these to Jesus in prayer. You can ask Him to remind you of the strength, hope, and comfort you have in Him.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT)