What We Carry

I said [to God], “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing; yet surely my reward is with God.” And now the Lord says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the [people] and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:4, 6 (NRSV) 

“Woe is me!” cried the prophet. “I’ve worked so hard, but I have nothing to show for it! It’s all to your glory, God, and you’re my reward—but I wouldn’t mind a byline of appreciation from the people. I put their spiritual welfare on my shoulders, I carried their burdens of grief and doubt, I hauled your holy anointing like Balaam’s donkey carrying God’s revelation … and to what end?” 

“To what end?” God repeated, pondering. “Hm, you’re right—the end is insufficient. I’ve asked too little of you, set the bar too low, minimized the scope of what is possible. Let’s multiply the expectation, expand the task! Instead of carrying the people, you will carry the light.” 

The prophet was just looking for a little sympathy. Instead, their lament increased the holy agenda, the divine endgame: 

What God has given us to carry will have its goal multiplied.  

What God has asked us to bear will have its result transformed.  

If a neighbor, perhaps the world. If a cross, perhaps resurrection. If a word, perhaps a blazing fire. 

The weight of what we carry is not being increased. God is not giving us more to do, just as God was not doubling the work of the prophet. The prophet lamented the meager fruit of their labor, so God promised to grow an entire orchard. 

Prayer
You have raised the bar for yourself, Most Holy God. Let my heart be light no matter my load, trusting that your outcome is boundless.