01/06/2026
6 Heavy Stones.
A man is struggling walking on a trail. He is carrying a heavy backpack.
In his backpack are 6 heavy stones he must carry. On each rock a name is written on them.
The first rock is a big beautiful rock.
Its name is ACHIEVEMENT.
It is the burden to make something of yourself.
It where you put your self worth and value.
This could be athletic achievement, achieving a certain lifestyle or achieving ownership of certain possessions.
It is a crushing burden.
Yet Jesus says,
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be provided for you" (Matthew 6:33)
The second rock is an old ancient rock covered in moss.
It has the name TRADITION.
It is the unbearable weight of family and society's expectations.
You're miserable and unhappy with doing what you have to do.
Yet Jesus said to those crushed by traditions,
"Take my yoke upon you and learn form me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29)
The third rock is a sharp rock.
Its name is BITTERNESS.
It is the burden of unforgiveness.
It is holding on to grudges and past hurts which weigh you down and fills your heart with anger.
Yet Jesus invites us to pray,
"And forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors"
The fourth and fifth rock are joined together and they are ugly rocks.
Their names are of SICKNESS and DEATH.
It is the weight of living with an illness.
It is the dread that one day a terrible illness could change your life forever.
It is heavy truth that time is ticking and one day we will die.
Yet Jesus in comforting a friend said,
" I am the ressurection and the life. The one who believes in me even if he dies, will live."
The last rock, the sixth rock, is a small rock but the heaviest rock of them all.
Its name is SIN.
It is the guilt of living selfishly instead of for God
It is the weight of guilt and shame for all that we have done wrong in our past.
It is the shame of how we are living our lives now.
Yet Jesus says to a paralysed man,
"Son, your sins are forgiven"
Jesus willing bears our heavy sin, he willingly carries our shame.
He takes them off our shoulders and puts them on his own shoulders.
And carries them to the cross
Where he pays for them with his own life.
Yet Jesus rises up from the dead.
So too we will be resurrected.
No longer with the burden of sin, but carrying Jesus' righteousness.
6 heavy stones. ACHIEVEMENT, TRADITION, BITTERNESS, SICKNESS, DEATH and SIN.
Burdens you have carried for a long time with pain and with tears.
Will you give them to Jesus? He wants to take them from you.
Will you receive his love and forgiveness?
Will you receive him as your God?
And find true rest, peace and joy.
