When One Trip Just Isn’t Enough

Let’s be real—some days feel like you’re carrying a 300-pound cross up a hill, and some days you’re just trying to carry your groceries inside in one trip. And if you’re anything like me, you’re gonna try and muscle through it, even when logic, common sense, and the screaming tendons in your arms say, “Maybe two trips would be okay.”

Jesus, the Son of God, literally carried a cross. And at one point, even He needed help. So why do we act like we’re supposed to carry all our burdens alone? Today, we’re going to talk about that—what it means to carry our crosses, why we shouldn’t do it alone, and what God says about handing over our burdens.

The Weight of the World (or Just Your Cross)

I used to think I could handle everything on my own. I had this idea that if I just tried harder, prayed harder, or pushed through, I’d be fine. It wasn’t until I hit a wall—one of those big, immovable, life-is-falling-apart walls—that I realized I was trying to carry something too heavy for me.

And that’s the thing: sometimes, we look at a burden and think, “I should be able to handle this.” But it’s not just about the weight of this one thing—it’s about everything we’ve already endured leading up to it. A 300-pound cross isn’t impossible for a strong man to drag—unless that man has been beaten, whipped, humiliated, and deprived of all his strength. The burden compounds when life keeps adding weight.

The same is true for us. That financial struggle? It might seem doable if you weren’t already drowning in stress. That difficult relationship? Maybe you could handle it better if you weren’t emotionally exhausted from everything else. The things we think we should be able to handle become unbearable when we’re already beaten down.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)

Even Jesus Needed a Hand

There’s a moment in Jesus’ journey to Golgotha where He simply cannot go any farther. “As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” (Luke 23:26)

Think about that. Jesus chose to take up that cross. He was fully willing to bear its weight. And yet, in that moment, the physical toll was too much. The soldiers grabbed Simon of Cyrene to help carry it the rest of the way. If Jesus—Jesus!—needed help to carry His cross, why do we believe we have to carry ours alone?

And it’s not just about asking for help; it’s about accepting it. God doesn’t expect us to do this alone. In fact, He commands us to lay our burdens at His feet:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

We are reminded again in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” God isn’t asking you to prove how strong you are. He’s inviting you to let Him carry what you can’t.

Practical Steps for Lightening the Load

So how do we actually do this? How do we lighten our burdens and stop trying to go at it alone?

1. Acknowledge that you need help.
2. This one’s tough, but it’s the first step. Admit that you’re struggling. You don’t have to be superhuman.
3. Ask for help—and take it when it’s offered.
4. Jesus didn’t turn Simon of Cyrene away. When someone offers support, don’t let pride keep you from accepting it. Whether it’s emotional, spiritual, or even practical help—take it.
5. Lay it at God’s feet.
6. Pray. Not just a quick, “God, help me,” but a real surrender. Tell Him what’s weighing on you and release it to Him.
7. Lean on your community.
8. We are not meant to do life alone. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) Find people who will help carry your burdens, and be willing to help carry theirs.
9. Rest in God’s strength, not your own.
10. It’s not about how much you can take before you break. It’s about realizing that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Let Someone Grab a Bag

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that life is heavy, and none of us are meant to carry it alone. Jesus didn’t. You don’t have to either. So the next time you feel like life is handing you a 300-pound cross, remember: you have a Savior who carried the cross so you wouldn’t have to carry yours alone.

Also, if you see me trying to carry all my groceries in one trip… maybe offer to grab a bag. I might finally be humble enough to say yes.

Closing Prayer

Father, we come to You weary, burdened, and often too stubborn to ask for help. Thank You for reminding us that we are not alone, that You have invited us to lay our burdens at Your feet. Help us to accept the support You provide—through friends, family, and most of all, through Your unfailing love. Give us the strength to release what we cannot carry and to walk forward in faith. Amen.

Take Action Now

What burdens are you carrying right now? Have you asked for help? Have you accepted help? Share your thoughts in the comments, or send this to someone who needs a reminder that they’re not alone. And if you haven’t already, subscribe so you never have to carry your burdens alone—at least not when it comes to reading these posts!