It’s July 1. I am hoping July will be a quiet month for me. We have had a full last few months, and I am feeling drawn to quiet and calm. To listening more than talking. To praying more than worrying. To no instagram and way less phone in my hand.
One question I have been asking the last few days is, “What am I carrying that God is asking me to lay down?” I have always felt very responsible for my kids. This is fine and dandy at first thought, but over time and in the flesh I can take that responsibility a tad too far. It turns into carrying their fears, their future, their health, their choices, their responsibilities, their growth, their struggles almost as my own.
And well, that’s not good. And I don’t want to carry all of that anymore.
I am learning how to interact with each of my kids as young adults who don’t always want my input or advice or opinion. And when you’ve offered that for many, many years, well…it doesn’t just turn off automatically.
But as I was walking and praying about this area of my life God was asking me to stop carrying, I heard so clearly—
God isn’t asking me to stop caring. He is asking me to stop carrying it as if it was all up to me.
Psalm 68:19 says, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”
I can stop carrying it because God is carrying it all. He is even carrying me. I can continue to care and pray and love without the burden of all of it.
Have you forgotten that old children’s song, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”? Well, it is still true and maybe you need to sing it loud and proud right where you are.
None of this is riding on me! Praise the Lord for that truth.