Do you carry around a burden? Some invisible thing with difficulty or obligation?

-Maybe it’s a draining responsibility that only falls to you.
-Maybe it’s an internal and unhealthy drive to continually prove yourself to others.
-Or maybe it’s a pile of problems you think only you can solve.

Psalm 55:22 (ESV) says, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” In the midst of his own problems, the psalm-writer encourages us to shift the burden to God. He then connects this to the fact that God will steady us.

Alone with a burden = unsteady
Casting a burden on God = steadier

There are a few different things you can do to help make it happen: Acknowledge your burden, and also acknowledge that there are other good things in your life at the same time; pray that God take your burden onto himself; ask him to guide you through the process and to give you a wise perspective; and talk to a trusted friend for support and encouragement.

Lastly, and most importantly, ensure you’ve made a decision that Christ be the Lord of your life. If you think he’s just a nice guy who once said some loving things, you won’t trust his power or in his ability to take your burdens or direct your path. If Jesus is truly your Lord, everything changes. His muscles replace your own.

Burdens can be like rocks in your soul. But they don’t need to drown you.

The burden shifts to Christ when he is the Lord of your life.

By Matthew Ruttan

—THIS Sunday I’ll be talking about the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit an “it” or a “who”? What does the Holy Spirit do? If Christians are supposed to “have” the Holy Spirit, does he take shape the same way in everyone? Great questions! Click here to see a short YouTube video about what to expect.

–“Up!” is published 5 days a week and returns on July 22.