Lent is a season of stripping away. A holy pause. A necessary undoing because life is messy, hard, and overwhelming. What burdens are you carrying today? Is it guilt? Shame? Fear Anxiety? Grief? The endless pressures of daily life? These weights can feel crushing, leaving us exhausted and weary. We are not alone in the in-between. Jesus meets us right where we are and as we are—and not only as a guide, but as the One who bears the weight we cannot carry.
In the ancient world, beasts of burden—donkeys —were not glamorous creatures. They were humble, lowly, often overlooked. Their strength wasn’t in speed or beauty, but in the quiet endurance to carry heavy loads.
It’s no accident that Jesus chooses a donkey for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He comes as King, yes—but not in splendor. He comes lowly, riding on the back of an animal that carries burdens.
Throughout His life—and especially in His death—Jesus carries what no one else can.
Our sin. Our sorrow. Our fear. Our weariness.
- Where are you feeling the weight of the in-between?
- What burdens are you still holding that Jesus is willing to carry?
- Can you picture Him—not just leading you—but lifting your load, steady beneath it?
The weight of a liminal world groaning for resurrection.
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering…” Isaiah 53:4)
In Lent, we are invited to place our burdens not just at His feet, but on His back—to let Him carry us through the in-between places.
It can feel like nothing is happening in the in-between. No fruit. No clarity. Just waiting. But the in-between is where identity is shaped. Where false attachments are loosened. Where we learn, not how to strive, but how to trust. And in that trust, we begin to recognize the One walking beside us, steady and sure, asking us to lay down what we were never meant to carry alone.
Lent is not about carrying more. It’s about surrendering what’s too heavy. In the in-between, Jesus doesn’t demand that we find our own way forward. He becomes our way. Our strength. Our rest. The beast of burden who carries us home.
Palms Up Palms Down Prayer
“Lord Jesus, I ask You to guide me and meet me in this sacred moment. You are my beast of burden, the One who carries what I cannot.”
Take a deep breath. With your palms facing upward, name the things that are weighing you down today. What burdens are you carrying? (Pause) Where do you feel their weight in your body? (Pause)
Now, imagine Jesus before you—standing or sitting—His palms open beneath yours. What do you notice about Him? (Pause)
Gently turn your hands downward, releasing your burdens into His hands. See the weight you were carrying now resting in His palms. (Pause) What do you notice about yourself in this moment? (Pause) How does your body feel? (Pause)
Watch as Jesus receives what you have given Him. What does He do with it? (Pause)
Now, turn your palms upward once more. Ask Jesus: What gift do You want to give me? (Pause)
Receive the gift He offers. What is it? Are you willing to accept it? (Pause)
As Jesus gives you this gift, what do you notice about Him? About yourself? (Pause)
“Lord Jesus, thank You for being my beast of burden, the One who carries what I cannot. You are the Lamb of God, my righteous and victorious King. You meet me in my weariness, receive the weight I surrender, and offer me Your gifts of grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, and peace. I give You all glory, honor, and praise. Amen.”
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