June 14 – Unburdened (Philippians 4:6)

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”(Proverbs 12:25)

IN WORD:
One of the most persistent problems for Christians is anxiety. One of the most consistent exhortations in Scripture is for us to not be anxious. It’s a curious contradiction, isn’t it? Or perhaps it makes perfect sense. God’s command for us not to be afraid, not to be anxious, not to fear, and to be strong and courageous is so complete and frequent for a reason: He knows that fear will be one of our worst problems.
Why is God so concerned with our level of anxiety? Because, as this proverb says, an anxious heart weighs a person down. It is a heavy burden. It is the antithesis of the abundant life that Jesus has come to give us. It will cripple us from doing God’s will and enjoying His presence. When we are absorbed in the threat of difficult circumstances or difficult people, we are not absorbed in God. When we fear the things that seem to steal our lives away, we are placing them on a higher pedestal than the One who gives us life.
God emphatically does not want us to be weighed down. He may give us many responsibilities, but He does not burden us with them. His burden is light, because Jesus is the Burden Bearer. And as long as we are anxiously stressing over our burdens, we are not letting Jesus bear them. We simply cannot experience His strength while bearing the weight of life in our own strength. We must choose one or the other. We must choose the burden-bearing God.

IN DEED:
What is the solution to our anxiety? There are several, prayer ranking first among them. But the proverb gives us another: kind words. Let your life be full of them. Tell them to yourself. God’s truth is kind to you, after all; rehearse it often. Tell them to others. God’s primary vehicle for expressing Himself in this world is through people. Verbally demonstrate His kindness to others. And when others offer kind words to you, accept them. God has sent them to you. Accept them, and do not be anxious.

“Beware of anxiety. Next to sin, there is nothing that so troubles the mind, strains the heart, distresses the soul, and confuses the judgment.” -William Ullathorne-