By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

I’ll start out this week by asking you some questions.  Have you been having a tough time lately?  Are you struggling to make ends meet?  Does it seem like you are bearing the weight of the world upon your shoulders?  Has it been easier to cry than to smile?  Are you just feeling a little run down, or down and out?

I’m no psychologist or psychiatrist.  What I am is a pastor who also happens to be a human being.  And I can tell you that I understand.

I snapped this picture in New Haven, Connecticut a year or so ago as Youngest Daughter and I walked around.  This sculpture sits in the front yard of their public library.  One young person is reading while another is relaxing with her head on the lap of the first.  Not a care in the world.  Just reading and resting.  Enjoying the sunshine and the beautiful weather.  We look at poses similar to these and think about how nice it would be to just lay it all down, ignore the distresses and problems, take a few minutes to just read, listen to the quiet, and take a very long deep breath of air.

It’s easier than you think.  Look of it this way.  What’s easier – carrying around a heavy load of anything, or laying it down?  What’s easier – worrying about anything and everything, or focusing on praying to the One Who can take care of it?  What’s easier – struggling day in and day out to try and accomplish it all on our own, or looking to the Lord for His strength which will carry us through any storm?  Do you get my point?

We say, “I can’t give it up.  I can’t turn it loose.  I have too much responsibility.  I need to be everything for everybody.”  Respectfully, no you do not.  And the sooner you realize that, the lighter your load will be!  Any of us can spare a moment.  Trust me.  So take that one moment this week.  Sit down.  Stay there.  Read something, or don’t.  But leave the burdens, disappointments, and responsibilities alone for a bit.  Take in a long deep breath of God-given Holy Spirit breathed air from above.  Turn it all over to Him – again!  And listen to the silence of your own breath.  If you plan to do all you have to do, you must have strength to get it done.  And you can only get the strength you need from God the Father.  Give Him your cares.  He is no psychologist or psychiatrist either.  He’s a God Who knows and understands your needs and your heart.  

Lay your head in the Father’s lap and let Him take care of you.

Just a thought.