Peace for the Anxious SoulSample

Day 2

STOP CARRYING IT ALL

God gave me a mental picture that I never want to forget. In it I was carrying a heavy, heavy load. It was piled up so high that I could barely balance it. I struggled to take even a small step forward. I was utterly weighed down and discouraged.

Then I realized that Jesus was standing right next to me. He opened his arms as an invitation to take what I was carrying. One by one, I handed him my burdens. I gave him the heaviness of my anxiety, a difficult rela­tionship, a source of deep pain, an impossible decision.

Somehow, what I struggled to carry with two arms, Jesus now held easily with one. Then he put his other arm around my shoulder. In that mo­ment I knew that even if my circumstances never changed, I didn’t have to stay crushed by their weight.

With Jesus by my side, I was no longer stuck.

Though I cannot literally see Jesus next to me, this mental picture re­minds me that I always have access to his Spirit’s very real presence. God dwells in us, which means he’s even closer than an arm around our shoulders. As the psalmist says, “Praise the Lord, praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms” (Psalm 68:19, NLT).

If you’re struggling to carry it all—whatever your “all” may be—that’s okay. You were never meant to do the carrying. Today you can give your heavy load to Jesus. You can accept the indwelling strength of God’s Spirit. He is the only one capable of holding your burdens and helping you take the next step.

One powerful way to experience God’s presence is to combine the physiological benefits of breath regulation with the spiritual benefits of Scripture meditation. You’ll find simple exercises to guide you in this practice at the end of this devotion and for the next three days. When you inhale truth and exhale trust, God’s Word will sink deeper into your mind and soul, providing long-lasting peace and strength. I recommend inhaling slowly for four counts, holding for four counts, exhaling for four counts, and pausing for four counts. (This is often referred to as box breathing or square breathing.) Do this three times as you meditate on these words:

Inhale Truth: Jesus comes to my rescue.

Exhale Trust: He carries me in his arms.