The Lord adds weight not to burden us, but to balance us.

We always have the opportunity to learn and to grow. But just as the physical body can become injured or paralyzed, our emotional and spiritual selves can also become immobilized. During trials, I sometimes find myself unable to do the things I once did with ease. Striving to look forward to a new season of life with a positive outlook, only to suddenly feel handicapped, stalled on the path I thought I was ready to walk.

When the body loses its former abilities, a person can either sink into discouragement or begin the hard work of learning how to function within new limitations. I’ve seen remarkable people rise above physical challenges and create extraordinary lives. Their courage inspires me, especially when I recognize moments where I’ve allowed my own trials to paralyze me emotionally or spiritually. At times, the pain has felt so heavy that I could hardly move forward. I’ve always had a long list of things I hoped to accomplish, yet finding the motivation to push ahead has sometimes been its own trial.

We don’t need to compare or detail our individual hardships to understand that every one of us goes through a refining process. Trials often force us to find a new way to walk, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Life can feel unbalanced, demanding more of us in one area than we feel able to give. And just when we think we’re carrying all we can, it may seem the Lord asks us to do even more.

As I pondered this, a simple lesson came to mind, one that helped me understand balance and the way the Lord works with us.

Think of weights.

A barbell is easiest to lift when the weight is evenly distributed on both sides. When the bar is balanced, the lifter can keep it steady and parallel to the ground. But when the weight is uneven, even if the total weight is less, it becomes harder to lift. The body strains to compensate, and the effort required is far greater.

 Not only was the bar easier for the lifter when the weight was proportionate.  With effort, an uneven weighted bar can be lifted but the work required takes more energy as the body tries to compensate for the difference.  It is actually harder to lift and maintain, even though the sum of the weight is less than when both sides were equal in weight.

This physical truth mirrors a spiritual one.

When we look at the “weightier matters” of our lives, work, family, children, school, home responsibilities, study, prayer, we often see imbalance. We feel overloaded on one side and under-supported on the other. We feel like the weightlifter who already has more than he can bear, and then the Lord seems to add something else to the bar.

But here is the miracle:
The Lord adds weight not to burden us, but to balance us.

       A gift from the Lord to help us make life easier to bear. 

      No matter what is going on in our lives, the Lord wants us to succeed.  The perceived added weight is really a blessing from him whether we can see or feel it to be at the time.

I am learning more than ever to apply the many things I have been taught. Druing times of trials I have had to learn a new way to accomplish task and responsibilities in my life.  The gospel is a gospel of action.  I can think about all the good things I want to do, and hope to do, but if I must find a way to do them, 

I am convinced the Lord is more willing to do things for us than we are willing to allow Him to do. If we are faithful and diligent, the Lord will provide a way for us to accomplish what He has commanded. 

Remember the words of Nephi in 1 Nephi 3:7, to go and do.  I want to go and do what the Lord wants me to do and I know that He will provide a way.