Do you feel as though you have too much on your plate? Is your list of tasks longer than you have time to get them done? Do you feel as though the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Would you like to lighten your load?
We all experience times when it seems the list of things to get done are far beyond our capabilities and the time we have to get them done. It may be in our jobs. It may be in our personal lives. And it can come from a combination of the two.
Our jobs can grow into an overwhelming task list. When we first start a job, we go into it knowing there will be things we need to learn. We understand that and are mentally prepared for it. Yet, as we spend years at the same organization, small additional tasks or position changes can increase the number of tasks we are to perform. As the old saying goes, “If you want more to do, do a good job.” Growing task lists are even more common with a plethora of employers being short employees.
Our personal lives can also become extremely busy. In some cases, it is due to the demands made by others. In other cases, we keep piling on the task list ourselves. There are some “must do” tasks, but there are also several tasks that either are not needed at all or are “nice to have” tasks.
How can we gain relief from all these tasks? We can turn to Jesus. We can take on His burden and allow Him to take on ours. This doesn’t mean the physical tasks. It means we exchange the mental, emotional, and spiritual burdens with Him. We allow Him to take on the worry and anxiety we face. We take on the calm of Jesus.
It is simple to say yet can be hard to do. The main reason behind it being hard is we don’t want to give up our worry and anxiety. Oh, we will say we do but we don’t. Not deep down inside. We must first take on Jesus’ burden in order to allow Him to begin to relieve us of ours. As we start turning our burdens over to Him, we find relief. As we find relief, we realize it feels good. We, then, allow Him to take on more of our burdens. It won’t happen overnight. It is a step-by-step process.
I pray we all decide to take on Jesus’ burden. I pray we give up our burdens to Jesus. I pray each one of us will begin the step-by-step process of finding relief. Give your worry and anxiety to Jesus. Take on the calm He offers. Find relief. Jesus’ burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 “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, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Marty Pressey 