BROADCASTS.com

b'The next morning, we continued down the forest path. After a couple hours, we came to a clearing on the top of a hill. I set down my pack with a grunt. My shoulders were sore where the straps had been digging in. He gestured to my pack and said, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153That\\u2019s a heavy load.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I stooped down to check the straps and buckles. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Has to be,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I replied. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Why?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d He asked.\\nI looked at Him for a moment, then started pulling things out to show Him. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I need all these things.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Tools and rope and food and clothes and flint and kindling and more\\u2026I took everything out and laid it on the ground all around me. Finally, I looked up at Him again. He surveyed all my things, carefully picking up each object. Sometimes, He smiled, other times His eyes grew sad. I watched Him and held my breath. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I know\\u2014I know,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I said. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153It\\u2019s too much. But I don\\u2019t know what I\\u2019ll need.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d He looked at me with the tenderest compassion. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153That\\u2019s a heavy load.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I could feel tears starting to roll down my cheeks. Where did I set my kerchief? He held out His own clean kerchief to me. Hesitantly, I took it and blew my nose.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Would you like something to eat?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d He asked. My eyes darted to the last of my stale bread, and my stomach made a noise. He continued, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153How about some soup?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I looked all around, but He didn\\u2019t seem to have anything with Him. He smiled, then reached inside the folds of His cloak and pulled out two steaming bowls. I took one uncertainly, but then I smelled it\\u2014leeks and carrots, my favorite. I muttered a thank you and took a sip. It was perfect.\\nAs we ate our soup, He leaned back and looked up at the sky, where clouds were skuttling across the great big blueness. I looked too. It was\\u2026peaceful. I finished my soup and let out a contented sigh. He smiled at me again. I was starting to like His smile. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153You know,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d He said, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153you don\\u2019t have to carry that heavy pack anymore.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I felt a pang of guilt, and something deeper\\u2014fear? But I looked at Him and said, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I don\\u2019t know how not to.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d He reached for my hand and held it. His hand was strong and kind. He said, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153You\\u2019re traveling with me, remember? Do you trust me?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I looked at my pack, then at our empty bowls. Finally, I said, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I\\u2014I don\\u2019t know. I want to trust you.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d He nodded and said, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153That\\u2019s enough.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nI took a deep breath. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Okay,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I said, and realized I was smiling. \\u2022 Hannah Howe \\n\\u2022 Sometimes, it feels like we are never enough. Never prepared enough, strong enough, smart enough\\u2026But Jesus is always enough. How might God be inviting you to rely on Him today? \\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Come to me [Jesus], all you who are weary and burdened\\u2026\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Matthew 11:28a (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\n1Cor.12.4-1Cor.12.11|1Pet.4.10-1Pet.4.11'