Along the way I’ve discovered that my life is often plagued with repeating themes—themes of fear, discouragement, uncertainty, doubt, and worry. Although I normally live a very joyful life, too often, I entertain the dark whispers of discontentment, allowing them to float into my life and stay awhile.
For me, there is a persistent battle between giving it to God and doggedly clinging to my fear, discouragement, uncertainty, doubt, and worry; I grasp for them, clutching them tightly as I would priceless treasures. I often enter into a circular and unproductive stream of conversation with God about these difficulties. I am a strong believer in the idea of praying without ceasing; however, recently, I’ve pondered the idea that perhaps it is the incessant dwelling on, the continual thinking about, and the endless discussion of these feelings that gives them power in my life.
There is no doubt that God wants me to bring everything to Him in prayer; but once I have turned my troubles over to Him, shouldn’t I then return my conversation to joy-filled praises? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that we should stop talking with God about our concerns. Instead, what I’m proposing is that we turn those heavy burdens over to Him, giving Him permission to remove them from our fragile shoulders, allowing Him to carry them, and firmly resolving not to snatch back those things we so recently released. I’m suggesting that we give our fear, discouragement, uncertainty, doubt, and worry to God and let Him keep them.
I am once again reminded of Paul’s instructions in Philippians regarding the things I should dwell on. Paul doesn’t say I should dwell on fear, pain, frustration, discouragement, uncertainty, doubt, or worry; instead, he says: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” Philippians 4:8 (NLT).
So join me as I stop having the same unproductive conversations with God and determine instead to turn all my burdens over to Him, allowing Him to carry them. Join me as I resolve to place each of my burdens firmly on God’s broad shoulders—and leave them there. Join me as I allow God to carry—and keep—these burdens, as I begin each day with that sweet release, as I spend the rest of my day deliberately and intentionally focusing on the beauty God has placed all around me.
Final Thought: It is only when I fully release my burdens to God that I am free to fully embrace the life He has planned for me.
For me, there is a persistent battle between giving it to God and doggedly clinging to my fear, discouragement, uncertainty, doubt, and worry; I grasp for them, clutching them tightly as I would priceless treasures. I often enter into a circular and unproductive stream of conversation with God about these difficulties. I am a strong believer in the idea of praying without ceasing; however, recently, I’ve pondered the idea that perhaps it is the incessant dwelling on, the continual thinking about, and the endless discussion of these feelings that gives them power in my life.
There is no doubt that God wants me to bring everything to Him in prayer; but once I have turned my troubles over to Him, shouldn’t I then return my conversation to joy-filled praises? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that we should stop talking with God about our concerns. Instead, what I’m proposing is that we turn those heavy burdens over to Him, giving Him permission to remove them from our fragile shoulders, allowing Him to carry them, and firmly resolving not to snatch back those things we so recently released. I’m suggesting that we give our fear, discouragement, uncertainty, doubt, and worry to God and let Him keep them.
I am once again reminded of Paul’s instructions in Philippians regarding the things I should dwell on. Paul doesn’t say I should dwell on fear, pain, frustration, discouragement, uncertainty, doubt, or worry; instead, he says: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” Philippians 4:8 (NLT).
So join me as I stop having the same unproductive conversations with God and determine instead to turn all my burdens over to Him, allowing Him to carry them. Join me as I resolve to place each of my burdens firmly on God’s broad shoulders—and leave them there. Join me as I allow God to carry—and keep—these burdens, as I begin each day with that sweet release, as I spend the rest of my day deliberately and intentionally focusing on the beauty God has placed all around me.
Final Thought: It is only when I fully release my burdens to God that I am free to fully embrace the life He has planned for me.
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