When God became man in the person of Jesus Christ, He embraced all aspects of human life, including every emotion and struggle that we face, even anxiety. This emotion is too familiar to so many in our time. The ways of Jesus, however, provide us a road map to security and peace, especially in uncertain times. We look to Jesus, who said, “Take My yoke upon you … For my yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Every arena of life will come with its challenges and stressors. Jesus told us that “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). As soon as Adam and Eve took a bite from the forbidden fruit, people have dealt with the tension found in a fallen world. The cares of life are a primary reason that people become overwhelmed and distracted from what God is doing (Matthew 13:22). Every day, it looks as though a new disaster is posted on social media, adding to the voice of the enemy who seeks to rob peace from the earth.
However, Jesus tells us not to be afraid. He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). We are not left without a comforter – the Holy Spirit who lives in us will give us peace when we find ourselves in stormy seas (John 14:16). You are never alone with God’s Spirit dwelling in you!
God wants us to trade our anxiousness for trust in Him. Every time we feel a care or burden hit us. Life has its responsibilities, but God wants us to be able to lay our cares on Him, whenever worry tries to hit us. We are always able to cast every care on God in prayer (1 Peter 5:7). This releases us from the need to carry every area of life on our backs and lay them on Jesus.
Jesus took on the sins of the world, so that we would not have to. Jesus, who had the weight of the world laid on Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, found strength from the Father in prayer. However, He did what we do not have to. He died for the sins of the world, so that we may be freed from them.
Jesus lived a life tempted in every way that we are yet was free from sin (Hebrews 4:15). He knows our weaknesses and humanity and empathizes with our pains and burdens. However, He has come to lift those burdens off us and to give us “life abundantly” (John 10:10).
Today, go to get on prayer, cast your cares on Him, and walk in the abundant life He has called you to.
Want to learn more about living positively and confidently? Consider starting with ISOW’s course No Limits or any of our many in-depth online Bible studies. Visit www.ISOW.org today to get started on an affordable online biblical education!
– Matthew Foley, Instructor and Staff Writer
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