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Across the Pastor’s Desk by George Marin

“As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from 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.

There comes a time in each of our lives when we can carry the burdens of life no further. Each of us at some portion of our journey will reach the point of exhaustion, frustration, loss, discouragement, disappointment or discomfort. None of us are exempt from any of these.

Each of us, in our frail humanity, no matter how strong or determined we have been, will reach the end of our own human strength and need intervention.

Some will reach that point because of working so hard, others because of trying to please others so much, and some due to illnesses, challenges or great losses.

We just somehow hit a block wall and cry out, “I just can’t do this any more!”

If you have reached that point, my friend, this doesn’t mean you’re a weak or bad person; it simply means you’re human.

Please do not judge yourself too harshly. Give yourself a break today. Understand that you are human. You have limitations, and sometimes you simply need the help of others.

Jesus, the perfect son of God, even as God wrapped in flesh, reached the point in his journey when he could bear the load no more — not even one more step.

Because of the brutal beatings he had taken, the blood and sweat he had lost, the horrendous and harsh treatment he had endured, and then the burden of the cross, he fell beneath the load. He could not put one more foot in front of the other.

At that point, a Roman soldier spotted Simon of Cyrene in the crowd, seized him and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross behind him all the way to Calvary.

Thank God for the Roman soldier, and thank God for Simon, who happened to be in Jerusalem that day.

Because of those human and divine interventions, Jesus was able to finish what he had been sent to do. He was able to be the one whom he was destined to be, the savior of all who would believe in him. Because someone intervened on his behalf, Jesus was able to die, be buried and rise from the dead. Hallelujah!

I am praying today that God identifies a “Simon of Cyrene” for you.

I’m praying that God will put someone directly in your path, at this point of your journey, who has the strength and energy to help you make it all the way past the finish line.

You are not alone on your journey. I love you, and I’m in your corner!

George Marin is a pastor at Grace Christian Church in Albert Lea.