Let Go
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
There’s so much that is unexpected that can happen in a single day to leave us feeling stressed, exhausted, worried and even afraid. Just listening to the news can make us feel desperate and anxious. But sometimes, there are other worries much closer to us that weigh us down – family members who are unwell, parental worries for children, financial concerns, uncertainties, problems… These can all be suffocating as they slowly captivate our thinking to steal our peace and affect our relationships and our work.
In Matthew 11:28 Jesus tells us ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Here Jesus himself calls to us to come to him – perhaps a contemporary version of that verse would say ‘Come over, let me take that heavy rucksack of yours… let’s spend some time together, have a coffee, go for a walk... and I promise that everything will feel better.’
Anxiety has a way of creating an imaginary sense of control over situations that we do not have control over. It seemingly fills a vulnerable space of helplessness.
When Peter tells us to ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’, he uses the Greek word which also means ‘throw’ – ‘throw your anxieties…’. It is an intentional, almost forceful, giving away of burdens we cannot carry - to God, who is asking us to let go and let him take charge.
Isn’t it wonderful that we can come as we are because he loves us even when we’re in fragments - our thoughts adrift, our hearts restless, fearful. And he wants to pick us up along with all the pieces we’re trying to carry and comfort us with the knowledge of his protection and love.
Prayer - Thank you Heavenly Father that you are enough! Thank you for your love and care towards me. Thank you that I can leave all the burdens I have been carrying at your feet and know freedom from its weight and rest for my soul.