The Burden is Light

It's always been a challenge for me to not place the responsibility and the pressure of achieving a particular goal or task solely on my own shoulders.

I used to think that by pushing myself and doing absolutely everything I was helping everyone but I was actually carrying all this extra stress that no one had asked me to carry.

This was especially noticeable working in Hospitality for so many years. People would sit down to eat stressed and angry and I wanted to do everything in my power to make them happy and relaxed.

It took me far too long to understand that some things I just don’t have any control over and that’s ok.

‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’
Matthew 11:28-30

Just like it's not our 'job' to save people - only to lead them to encounter their saviour - we need to stop carrying burdens God never asked us to carry!

And you know what I've learned? That it's the things that we care about the most that we hold onto the tightest.

Yes, it can be easy to give over to God the things that we don't really need to happen or aren't emotionally attached to. It's a whole lot harder to trust God with finding a job or getting a car or even connecting with some really good friends.

I've found that the more important something is, the less I want to concede any control over it. We often go 'God you I trust you in this and this and this but just not this - ok?'.

Well no it's NOT OK. It's literally like having an expert at our very disposal and yet we refuse to allow them to help!

‘For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’
Isaiah 41:13

Do you ever see those little kids walking home after school with their big backpacks and without fail their parents will offer to carry them for them? The ones that give over the bag to their parents have the weight lifted from their shoulders and they run off with their friends.

Yet, some of the kids can be stubborn and hold tightly onto their backpack refusing to let go. But just like us they are only left weighed down by the load and struggle to keep going.

Can you imagine how God feels? I’m sure he’s going ‘if only they could just let go and let me take care of everything!’.

I can’t tell you how many times I finally relinquished control over something and only then did everything begin to fall into place! So I’m learning that the earlier I give over control the better everything will go!

‘Cast your burden on theLord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you.’
Psalms 55:22

I know it’s hard and it’s scary but it’s so worth it! God has got way more experience in any challenge we may face, then we do! So we need to stop thinking we know better!

It’s time to give over everything to him and to rest in faith that he will meet every one of our needs.