Heavy Lifting

I know that Easter or Resurrection Sunday was celebrated about 10 days ago, but I just can't move so quickly away from the story and back to my regularly scheduled program. This year, I'm taking a "selah," a pause to reflect on God's message to us from the cross.

I keep thinking about how Jesus bore the weight of the sin of the world on His nail-scarred hands and feet, and on his bruised and broken body. As He was lifted up for all to see, He bore the shame and embarrassment for our sins--including the sins that we don't have enough sense to be ashamed and embarrassed to commit, the sins we wear proudly as a garment which we have no intention of taking off, let alone cleaning up.

Some of us have worn our garments of sin and dysfunction for so long that we no longer even notice the weight. We don't notice it, but others often do. We sometimes wonder why people avoid us or why we find ourselves engaged in arguments and disputes time and time again. Perhaps it's because those around us are tired of all the heavy lifting required just to have a conversation with us. Perhaps due to excessive criticism in childhood or other challenges, we just cannot bear to be wrong--even though we know all have sinned and fallen short--and others simply cannot bear our unbearableness.

Instead of acknowledging and then releasing our sin and dysfunction to the Lord, we pretend as if all is well and essentially demand that others play along with our self-deception. Unfortunately, over time, our self-deception morphs into outward projection as we make others the cause of our frustrations and disappointments in life.

We become so adept at projecting onto others that the lines become blurry, and it actually begins to appear as if others are at fault. Deep inside, however, we know the truth, for the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us into all truth--including the truth we don't want to face.

The Good News is that, all we have to do in order to free ourselves is to release our weights to the Lord who tells us to "cast our cares on Him, for He cares for us" and "whom the Son sets free is free, indeed." Don't try to figure out how it works, just know that it works. We can't lift ourselves, but thank God we don't have to. Jesus did all the heavy lifting for us on Calvary's cross thousands of years ago.

Release your cares, burdens, anger, attitude, insecurity, all of it to Jesus Christ. Lay them at the cross through prayer and the power of God's Word and leave them there. Go ahead. Take off that heavy load and put on a garment of praise! You'll walk freer and farther than you ever thought possible.

BNcouraged!


Rev. Karen