This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
YEARS AGO A SONG CIRCULATED in Christian churches with the words, “It’s not an easy road we are traveling to heaven, for many are the thorns on the way.” I liked the melody, but I didn’t care for the mournful tone of the words. In all fairness, John W. Peterson, the songwriter, went on to say, “But Jesus walks beside me and brightens the journey, and lightens every heavy load.”
To be sure, everybody has burdens, and everyone’s road has some rough spots along the way. But I rejoice in the fact that God’s “commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). In fact, Jesus said, “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).
By contrast, the wise man declared, “The way of the unfaithful is hard” (Prov. 13:15).
I have a friend who suffered a broken hip recently. While he was recuperating, he spent weeks in an assisted living facility. His wife told me, “When I hear him singing, I know he is in pain.” Did you catch that? Singing, not complaining! Was life hard? Yes, but he focused on God’s goodness and sang about that.
Determine today you will focus not on life’s difficulties, but on God’s grace.
Ron McClung, who works at his denomination’s world headquarters, lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife, Carol. They have two sons, nine grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters.
