Hi Faith Family,
Praying you are well and in fine spirits on this November day.
Yet it is possible that you are not in the best of moods. Most people, when asking the question “how are you doing” mean it in a rhetorical sense. They don’t really want to know. But I do. If you are carrying some emotional weight with you today, I pray this focus on God’s Word is beneficial to you. Can you detect an emotional burden you are carrying? Take an assessment: is there a relationship that is weighing on your mind because it has gone through a difficulty? Do you have residual guilt over an issue that has been dealt with and past? Is there a lingering sadness over something? Perhaps you have experienced a failure of some sort that you have had trouble fully dealing with.
Perhaps it isn’t your issue, but someone else. Have you emotionally invested in someone else’s problem(s), failure(s), or heartache?
If so, don’t forget to unpack your suitcase. Rick Lowen presented at our recent Fall Conference on various issues, one of which was striving for life balance. He likened a human being to a three-legged stool: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Where one leg of the stool is too short, the stool won’t stand straight—the life is out of balance. Where one of the three legs is way out of balance, there is a real area of concern. Rick illustrated the emotional leg of the stool in this way: His daughter came home from college with her suitcase jammed so incredibly full, it was as if it would burst. She brought home virtually all of her clothes home, apparently, to have them washed. She needed to unpack the suitcase.
Rick’s point was when we are putting emotional burdens into our minds and hearts, we must remember to “unpack the suitcase.” It is good for us to care and be concerned about other people, but we must unburden ourselves to our God. Like a suitcase filled to overflowing might cause zipper damage, we must remember to take our burdens to our Savior who asks us to come to him who lifts our burdens and gives us rest. Spiritual rest comes with emotional rest as well, a necessary unburdening for us to continue to be helpful to others. This is not intended to be a one-time act, but a regular practice to ask the Lord to remove what might otherwise hinder you from serving Him and those around you. Along with confessing your sins, don’t forget to give up your emotional burdens to his care. Jesus came to remove your sinfulness before God’s sight and to give you rest in every way from your burdens. You have forgiveness through Jesus. You also have release from emotional burdens, in his time and through his gracious caring for your soul.
John’s disciples carried an emotional burden, following the graphic and seemingly flippant and dramatic end to their teacher. With John’s plattered head proffered following Herodias’ entertaining dance and her mother’s wicked bloodlust request; John’s disciples were left confused, alone, and emotionally hurting. What they did next describes a course of action which would serve us well whenever we need to unpack the suitcase:
John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. --Matthew 14:12
Whatever failures, disappointments, or burdens are weighing you down, I encourage you to take them to your loving and compassionate Lord through prayer. Unpack your emotional suitcase before him and throw your anxiety his way, knowing and trusting that he cares for you. Leave it with him—having dealt with the issue fully, knowing there is no more you can do, bury it and go tell Jesus. Ask Jesus to take away the burdens you carry so that you may continue to serve him by helping others to carry their burdens. God be with you as He lifts your burdens so that you can strengthen others’ weak knees and others’ hands hanging limp.
Prayer idea: Pray for release from whatever burdens you are carrying. Pray for someone you know is emotionally hurting right now. Pray for new opportunities to help others carry their burdens.
Have a great week, blessed by God!
--Pastor Dan