“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Dear Weighted One,
Yes, you.
The one who carries it all. The one who drags the weight that most will never know about. The one who sees the hurt in others and swallows it down as if it’s your own. The one who lays awake at night worried about loved ones and life seasons you have little control over. The one who woke up so impregnated with dread and angst you feel as if you can’t see your own feet anymore.
That heaviness pulls you down. It stretches your skin Your muscles. Your emotions. It pulls your brow and mouth towards the ground. It irritates your insides when you attempt to laugh, reminding you that it’s still there.
I know because at times, I’ve swallowed the weight myself.
Dear one who took on a short-term commitment that turned into a long-term source of stress…or who was taken advantage of and carries the burden of undoing the hurt feelings all on your own…or who is walking through a season that seems to be producing more doubt than faith and poses more questions than you have answers. Dear one who is mourning a loss and wondering why.
You feel Tired. Isolated. Heavy. Burdened. Nervous. Even Weak.
It will pass.
Think of a trainer who places weight in your hand at the gym and tells you to hold it over your head for 60 seconds. Doesn’t it seem that the last 10 are the hardest? Your arm starts to shake and you have to force yourself to breathe. But when you finally hear “TIME!”, you realize you were stronger than you ever knew. A smile burst on your face and now you know you can do hard things.
Your confidence boosts.
Your muscles strengthen.
Before you know it, you’re encouraging someone else who is counting down those last 10 seconds.
Perhaps you’re in your final stretch.
Sometimes for us to shake the weight we carry, we have to let the Lord turn us upside down and shake it loose. That could mean a new job, a new relationship, a relocation…oftentimes, it means a renewed commitment to our faith with a lifestyle that reflects that change.
And sometimes, for us to get rid of that extra weight, we have to work through it. Show up consistently. Do the work. Maybe it involves seeing a counselor. Maybe it involves confiding in a trusted friend. Maybe it involves showing up daily to meet with God and simply asking Him for the assignments He has for us each day…and then doing them.
It will pass weighted one.
And you will be stronger for it. Wiser for it. And your confidence in those God-given abilities will have grown.
God’s word tells us how to do hard things. Oftentimes, we toss aside His expert instructions and take off to do things our way. The results usually cause unnecessary pain and the feeling that we need a do-over. God wrote the manual. He knows best. And although He is never-changing, He makes it clear that our seasons will change.
So, it will pass.
In the meantime, take the hand of the One who wrote it all down for you and don’t let go. For while you carry those burdens which come with living this life, He has a plan to give you rest in it while He walks you through it.
It will pass.
Lord,
I don’t know how much longer I can carry this weight. But, I believe you are walking with me, keeping me from losing my balance, showing me the way through. May others see the strength I display as a testament to Your faithfulness and provision and be encouraged to grasp Your hand while they walk through their own hard things.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
*Further Reading:
Simple Faith 
As you always do, you present inspiration with grace and truth. Love how HE gives you the ability to express so beautifully. ❤️
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