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The Burden Bearer: Who’s Carrying Your Load?

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Do you know the Burden Bearer?

He invites us to cast all of our cares on His shoulders, releasing them from our own.

But how exactly is that done? And why do we find ourselves heavy, burdened, weighted, and exhausted?

The allegory in these pages will captivate your heart, delight your soul, and profoundly change your life. Follow the main character—Carrier—on his journey with the Burden Bearer, and discover the Christian life and relationship with Jesus that you were meant to enjoy!

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2012

105 people are currently reading
485 people want to read

About the author

Paul Chappell

169 books101 followers
Dr. Paul Chappell is the senior pastor of the Lancaster Baptist Church and president of West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California. His biblical vision has led the church to become one of the most dynamic independent Baptist churches in the nation. He has been married to his wife for over thirty-six years and is the father of four married children all serving in Christian ministry. His books can be found at http://www.strivingtogether.com.

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5 stars
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38 (27%)
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20 (14%)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Frans Kempe.
2,785 reviews12 followers
July 14, 2022
A well made book about how to let God carry our burdens. A mix of allegory and teaching.
Profile Image for Josh Miller.
378 reviews22 followers
April 19, 2014
The allegorical nature of this book made the content that much more enjoyable to read. I also found it refreshing to read the transparency of the author. He accurately pegged some of the struggles that many ministry leaders face while proscribing the Biblical remedy. A very encouraging read!
Profile Image for Ruth Benziger.
Author 1 book48 followers
May 5, 2023
A very humbling book to read. Often, we think we can carry our own load with our own strength, but we can't. We fall short. We get exhausted and end up falling at the Lord's feet. I think I do this all too often and find that I'm always asking for forgiveness for not trusting that he would make my load lighter.

This book was very convicting and it reminds me that the Lord offers REST. Take the rest he offers and it will lead to a more productive and enjoyable life. I plan to continue my best to rest in the Lord.
Profile Image for Carolyn.
27 reviews
January 19, 2019
Good read

I enjoyed this book. It. Reminded me of Pilgrims Progress. To learn how to depend on God rather than go it alone. It was a needed read for the journey I’m on in my life right now. So glad to have this title in my library. One I would read again.
10 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2019
Great book for those going through trials or wishing to help others.
Profile Image for Beca.
18 reviews
May 30, 2023
I loved this book so much! Such practical spiritual advice!
Profile Image for Trudy Pomerantz.
635 reviews5 followers
December 11, 2013
An excellent book that was definitely worth my time reading. I often try to bookmark passages that I found helpful - but it seemed at times that I was bookmarking almost every page. Not many books make it to my "if-i-only-had-one-bookshelf" bookshelf (and no other 21st century books) but this was that helpful.

Some of the passages I find helpful:

But stress is not new. Neither is overload. … No doubt Elijah had reached his tipping point when he collapsed under the juniper tree and requested death. (1 Kings 19:4)

Removing the cape and creating space to breathe is a means by which we acknowledge to the Lord that we are not able to bear the burden of stress without him. ….One of the truths the Lord used in my life to lift the load of stress from my shoulders is summed up in this statement: A sacrificial life is always unfinished. … There is a fine line between diligence and drivenness. … Driven Christians carry the stress of trying to do God's work for Him. Diligent Christians fully give themselves to the Lord and trust Him to of His work through them. … We release the burden of stress when we release the responsibilities for the outcome

"We can be afraid or we can be ready."

The burden of criticism is really just the burden of the fear of man in another form. I'm learning now to ask the Holy Spirit to help me filter criticism for that which He knows would be helpful to me … and to let the rest go. It's too heavy a burden for my shoulders.

The only way to break out of this cycle of hopeless running its to find your acceptance in Christ. Whether or not you cross your self-imposed finish line, whether or not you gain the human approval you long for, whether or not you win the applause of your peers - you are accepted in Jesus Christ. Period.

Discipline is vital to the Christian life. But sometimes we must step back and ask the tough questions: Why am I willing to carry this load? And for whom am I bearing it? Is it for God's glory? Or for mine? The loads we impose on ourselves to please our own egos or to impress our own egos or to impress our peers are never worth the pain they produce.

As slow as we are to recognize it and as much as we hate to admit it, our way is proud and haughty. We want to be noticed for our strengths and valued for our skills. Jesus' way is paradoxically reversed.
Profile Image for Ryn.
48 reviews22 followers
February 21, 2014
Sometimes you put a book on a shelf for another day. Then you realize that a day turned into a month then a year. And when you reach for it, you wonder if it wasn't sitting there, patiently waiting for the RIGHT time.

That is what happened to me as I picked up, 'The Burden Bearer; Who's Carrying Your Load". I won this in a goodreads giveaway and while I had every intention to read it right from the mailbox, I had a million things going on in life and just never got to it. But, I do believe that some times, things happen for a reason. This coming month I have a surgery. It's a burden, believe me. Finding out in December that I had an ugly cyst that needed to come out, was not really something I was thrilled about hearing. To say I wore the stress "like a backpack" is an understatement. (read the book, you'll understand).

This book is a very quick and easy read. In fact, it would be the perfect companion to a care package for someone who is going through some life challenges. The author writes simply, using great examples and allegory to make his point come across. And that point is rewarding… we don't have to carry the weight of our stress and worry and doubts and fears… (all the yucky stuff) on our own. We can give it to God.

I truly enjoyed the book and already know people who would also be able to benefit from the news, or a reminder of what they already know, that God cares and He wants to take the burdens from our shoulders.
Profile Image for Angie.
276 reviews
February 26, 2014
An excellent read! It had an interesting "format", I guess you would call it. At the beginning of each chapter was an allegory, and the second half of each chapter was teaching and making practical the lessons of the allegory. Of course, all of it was about giving Christ your burdens. It was very eye-opening, helpful, good, and pointed your every thought to Christ. I also appreciated the fact that the Bible quotations were all from the KJV...
Profile Image for John.
1 review
May 30, 2015
Just what I needed

In a world full of depression and burdens to accompany it, this book was exactly what I needed to grow in Christ, learn how to "yolk with Him" and become "thy good and faithful servant". Too many people are in need of learning how to give their burdens to Christ, but after reading this book, I feel better equipped to inform them and help them.
Profile Image for Chesleigh Burns.
212 reviews
May 23, 2013
This novel was fantastic. I liked the story that went along with each lesson. The reader felt more connected with the topic and understood how it could aply to their life. It
well written and I felt that it fulfilled its purpose.
Profile Image for Donny.wilsonmvlbc.com.
4 reviews2 followers
May 1, 2013
Out of the norm for Pastor Chappell. Very reminiscent of Pilgrims Progress, but easier to read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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