Unload!

I was walking around the slums the other day, looking down, watching where I stepped. The sun was beating down on my head, the 98% humidity was making me sweat in places I didn't know my body could sweat and the heat was erupting from the ground causing me to feel like I was suffocating! It was hot! Every day here is hot! Even when it rains, it's hot! 

To be honest, it was just another day, but for some reason I just couldn't handle the heat that day. Every step I took was a struggle, as though I had weights holding me down. I had no energy, I was tired. Even smiling to strangers and giving kids high fives felt too much - which normally is never too much!! Reaching down into my bag I pulled out a bottle of water and began to take a few sips. It offered some refreshment. I continued on. A few moments later I got a tic tac out of my bag to see if that would give me a boost [haha all 2 calories of a tic tac]. I still felt drained. I reached into my bag a third time to get my lip gloss [i have a mango favoured one that has high SPF in it and it's nice to lick off if I'm feeling snacky lol]. Still no relief. 

Then I had a great idea, "why don't I give my bag to my husband to carry?" So I took my bag off my shoulder and kindly asked if he could carry it for a while, of course he was more than happy to help. It was as if the life, that was missing, came back into my being, as he literally lifted the weight from my shoulders. I'm a girl, I like to carry a bag, especially if we are on outreach all day, as there may be something I need. Also I was a Girl Guide and they always taught us to 'Be Prepared', and well, I am. I don't carry a load of things, but I did seem to be carrying stuff that was weighing me down in the Manila heat. My husband, bless his heart, carried that bag for me the rest of the day. Energy filled my body, I was able to walk faster, I could even run faster to get out of the way of the jeepneys and tricycles, I had free hands to high five people and free arms to hug. My smile was back on and I was feeling good. Anyway, it really got me thinking about the stuff in life that weighs us down. Too often we load our lives up with unnecessary baggage, or excess baggage, if you like. Hurts, offence, negative thoughts, shame, opinions of those who don't matter, fear. You get the idea. You know your stuff. You know the things that are weighing you down. It may even be things that are beyond your control. A sickness, a loss of job, a betrayal, a broken relationship. Whatever you are facing today, know that you don't have to carry the weight around. There's a verse in the bible that I really love that says, 'Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there for he always tenderly cares for you.' [1 Peter 5:7, TPT]. I see us as literally giving our heavy load over to Him [God], taking our bag off of our shoulders and allowing Him to carry it for us. He nailed all our heaviness to the cross, we don't have to carry it anymore. Whether it's day to day stress, or deep pain you are walking through, He wants it all. Your heart is too precious to carry the burden alone. I'm not saying that we don't have emotions and feelings and we should just give it over and move on. No, life is real, things hurt, we need to acknowledge that, but let's not allow the stress and strains of life to stop us from living life and loving life. From loving ourselves and loving others. So, if you've noticed your bag is a bit heavy these days, if your joy has been diminished and your energy low, can I encourage you to give it to God? Let Him take it off of you. And as He does, allow His life, hope, Truth, freedom and joy to fill every part of your being. 'Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you'll discover that I'm gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear." -- God.💛