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Giving our burdens to God

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

The past week has brought a lot of changes for everybody in the UK and many of us may now feel burdened by the prospect of the months ahead.  While our society often promotes a “chin up” attitude, this is not always the best method for dealing with difficulties. As Christians we know that there is somebody by our side who wants us to share our problems without judgment.

 

The issues confronting us for the remainder of 2020 may be wide ranging, from family to finances to our children’s education… While God doesn’t necessarily remove worries straightaway, He does take their weight and we can completely lean on Him.

 

Here are a few ideas on how to share your concerns with Him and feel at peace, knowing He is at work in the situation.

 

 

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you (Psalm 55:22)

 

Practical exercises

 

  • Write down what is burdening you, scrunch up the paper and throw it away. As it falls into the bin know God has taken it – not that the situation has disappeared, but the weight of having to carry it yourself has been lifted.

 

  • As you pray your worries to God, write them on paper and put them in a jar. As you shut the lid know that particular worry is safe with Him. It will be wonderful to read these in a year’s time and see how God helped lift these burdens, or has given you guidance in how to deal with them.

 

  • Take a walk by some water, choose a stone and pray about your burden while holding it. Then throw the stone into the water, knowing that God will be working on the situation, just as erosion will be shaping and changing the stone as it flows onwards in the water.

 

 

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)

 

Talking aloud – to God or to others

 

  • When we vocalise our prayers to God we distract our mind from ruminating, something that can often make us feel much worse. He is always nearby with a caring, listening ear.

 

  • You can ask others to work through burdens with you and provide support in the form of prayer. Everyone is on their own journey with God and opportunities for mutual support will often arise. It’s great that we can help each other in this way!

 

  • Refocus your mind by speaking, or singing, praises to God. Doing this reminds us that He is bigger than all of our problems and, with His fantastic power and kindness, can easily carry their weight.

 

 

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me (Matthew 11:28-29)

 

Reminders of God’s presence

 

  • One of the overriding feelings in 2020 for many has been isolation. It is always good to remind yourself that God is with you, ready to listen to whatever is weighing you down.

 

  • Choose an item that you see regularly, such as a shoe in your hallway or an image on a noticeboard. No matter how you are feeling, when you see the object remind yourself that God is by your side wants the best for you. While He doesn’t promise that life will be easy, He does promise to sustain us through whatever difficulties we face.  

 

  •  The Word of God is our sword and we can use it in the fight against burdens. In our society it can be easy to bottle things up, especially with so many demands on our time and energy. However, God’s word can provide us with rest, as well as wisdom and strength to work through a situation. Why not choose a verse from this article and write it in a prominent place in your home?

 

 

Some closing thoughts

 

Although God, the creator of the World, is so huge, He cares passionately about every area of our life. No matter how small a worry or a concern may seem, He cares.

 

Even Jesus was burdened before He went to the cross: Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42). While our troubles are not as painful as His – being crucified for humanity’s sins – God is constantly shaping us to become more like Jesus. Sometimes going through challenges can help us to become more like Him, with God’s guidance.

 

God does not let us go through difficult times on our own, and never will: Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you (Isaiah 46:4)

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