We are balancing a lot, and each day has responsibilities we are privileged to have.
This is how my journal entry began last night.
And then…
But it’s too much, and I constantly feel like I am messing up…why has God called us to do, supposedly, more than we can handle?
And then the Lord reminded me of His yoke…(Matt. 11:28)
Pressures and difficulties and responsibilities do belong with us, held across our shoulders along with His, but you know what? Guilt, doubt, and worry don’t. They only make the heavy heavier, the hard harder.
So we reject the guilt of what wasn’t above and beyond – who we did not remember to check in on – or what area of life got ignored today…what wasn’t “enough.”
We reject the doubt that says we can’t handle it, we aren’t cut out to do such hard things, or that on a grander scale than just today we have epicly gotten it wrong.
We reject the worry that, actually, things aren’t okay and won’t be okay, because of something we are missing…
Guilt, doubt, and worry: They are an OPTIONAL burden on top of a non-optional one. It’s like Jesus and I are carrying this yoke together, and my side has extra. We aren’t going to be able to move forward!
In Christ, we have the power to call those heavy thoughts and feelings exactly what they are and reject them, take them off…just carry the burden, the yoke, we are meant to have.
And instead of guilt, worry, and doubt about all we are doing…
What shall we pile onto our burdens, brothers and sisters in Christ?
-The love of God and freedom from condemnation! Romans 8
-Truth, perspective, and thanksgiving! Philippians 4
-Trust in His ability to guide and provide! Psalms, Proverbs 3:5-6
-Courage. Joshua 1:9
“Come into the light…”
Come to the Lord, let His light shine on your burden; the heavy lightens when we see it as it is.
It is:
-temporary
-useful
-refining
-an opportunity to bring a sacrifice of praise
-an opportunity to stop and see what really matters, what we are really living for (Matthew 5)
-an opportunity to know Him right here and now, in a new way (Psalm 34:8)
