My dear friend and college roommate came to spend this past weekend with me. While we had a lovely, relaxing time, she was heading back to an increasing pile of responsibilities and tasks this week. Then Monday I visited my rather overwhelmed sister at college, where she is encountering the university phenomena of every professor seeming to think his or her class is the only one for which you have work to do.
Then I came home and promptly started to stress out myself at all I had to do before a fast-approaching conference. I could feel my stomach tensing and my breath growing shallow and quick as I tried to break down my to-do list into manageable chunks—and pray for those whose lists were far more daunting than mine.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” ~Micah 6:8
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~Matthew 11:28-30
“Cease striving and know that I am God” ~Psalm 46:10a
Remembering this, I drew a deep breath. It’s so easy sometimes to forget the “main things”—or the “one thing” that Maryremembered. To forget to give our overwhelmedness into Jesus’ hands instead of freaking out over it. To forget that He is our Helper, and we don’t have to do it alone.“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
