Laying Down Burdens
Written by: Naomi Lapp
Read Psalm 118:14-24.
When it is time to give up our burdens and set aside our worries; how often do we find ourselves relying on our own strength to deal with those things? How often are we overthinking a decision that has already been made, wondering if it should have gone another way?
I found myself in this space on a backpacking trip a month ago where I was overthinking a decision that changed the whole course of the trip on only the second day. Was it the wrong thing to do? Were we missing out on something great by stepping in a different direction? As I sat at camp with my friend the next morning and everyone else went out for a hike, I caught myself daydreaming about where we might have been if we hadn’t changed our plan. I didn’t realize that the experience we were having wasn’t any less impactful for us; it was just different than what I had envisioned it to be. All of those worries and ‘what ifs’ I was rolling around in my mind were distracting me from what He had for me.
I quickly realized as I looked out into the snowy woods that God had placed me in that campsite so that I could just sit in his presence and lay everything at his feet. I could simply relish in the beauty of His creation around me and spend time with my friend that needed extra love and support. What a beautiful day that the Lord made just for me, and there I was worrying about everything instead of sitting in His presence rejoicing in His goodness.
Reading through this section of Psalms, I am reminded of how often I hold onto worries or carry burdens that I am not supposed to carry on my own! I am reminded of His steadfast promises that His love truly endures forever. While others may have cast Him aside, He came back for us to carry those burdens and create space for us to rejoice in His presence and His goodness.
Closing Prayer: Lord, as we draw close to you and remember your sacrifice, may we lay down our burdens, relying on your strength instead of our own. May we rejoice in your strength and steadfast love.