"This better be worth it,” I muttered through gritted teeth. The straps of my backpack bit into my shoulders, making each step feel heavier than the last.

"Malik said it would be just around this bend. If he’s wrong, I’m gonna tell him to carry this stupid weight all this way." I knew it didn’t actually work that way—nobody could carry somebody else’s weight—but the thought made a wry smile stretch across my face. If Malik was right, soon I’d finally be able to put this weight down. I’d been carrying it for a long, long time.

I followed a bend in the trail, and a gasp escaped my mouth. I saw it. "This. This has to be the place." Straight in front of me stood a glorious building made of precious gold, shimmering silver, and glittering gems. It seemed to shine in the afternoon light.

I pushed open the heavy wooden door, and inside I found a man. While His simple clothing wasn’t nearly as glamorous as the building around Him, He still seemed radiant. Before Him sat a large basket.

“Welcome, Dominic.” He smiled. “I’m so happy to see you.” He glanced at my backpack. “That looks heavy. Would you like to put it down?” He asked, waving a scarred hand at the basket. I remembered Malik’s words when he told me that He would take whatever I put in the basket.

“Y-yes, I think I would.”

“Here, let me help.” He gently lifted the bag from my back and opened it on the floor, exposing its contents. Inside, I saw my life. Rocks of various shapes and sizes, each one labeled—mistakes, regrets, and hurts mingled with my talents, achievements, and prized relationships. I knelt to the floor, and one by one, I placed each rock in His basket.

I expected to feel lighter, and I did, but a heaviness remained in my heart. I just couldn’t shake it. Giving Him the contents of my backpack didn’t feel like enough. Confused and desperate, I began to panic. "Why do I still feel this way? What else do I have?"

In my desperation I looked up at Him, and in His eyes I saw...love. And suddenly, the answer was clear. Before I quite knew what I was doing, I got to my feet. He seemed to read my mind and beamed as He held out a hand to help me balance.

Then, I got into the basket. • Taylor Eising

• What is weighing heavily on you today? Consider taking a moment to imagine all these things as heavy objects. What are these objects, and what do they represent? Do you feel like you can give these things to Jesus? Why or why not?

• Because God cares about us, we can cast all our burdens on Him (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus, in His grace, gives us the faith to drop all our worries at His feet and rely on His love. How can the truth that Jesus cares about us—and every part of our lives—make it easier for us to entrust our troubles to Him?

• What do you notice about Jesus in this story? Why do you think the author depicted Him this way?

• Why do you think Dominic got into the basket?

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT)