Are you weary, friend? Have you taken inventory of your life and found your cares to be like a bulging suitcase that won’t shut? So much so, that when you try to lock it away, it pops open, spewing out All The Things? All you wanna do is get away… All you crave is peace… but that suitcase just follows you everywhere – even when you’re not on vacation! Do you feel that way right now?

You’re in good company. I recently made a list of All The Things that take my time and soak up my energy and let me tell you… it was freeing to write, but overwhelming to read. As I stared at the list, I realized that I needed to GO to the Lord with my cares.

In the Bible, Mark & Luke talk about a man named Jairus, whose 12-year old daughter was ill. He went to see Jesus and asked for her to be healed. We know that Jairus had servants because they came and told him she had died. The rest of the story is beautiful: Jesus came to the house and brought the girl back to life!

Don’t miss something very important – Jairus himself WENT to Jesus. He took it upon himself to act. He had a HUGE worry upon his shoulders – his daughter was dying! Yet, instead of sending his servants, he went directly to the source of hope.

Friends… where do you go for peace? Hope? Do you give up and neglect prayer? Do you think your situation is hopeless?

Consider the woman who had a bleeding disorder (mentioned in the very same passage as the one with Jairus!!). Do you think her physical ailment was comfortable? Do you think she waltzed to where Jesus was for healing? She was known by her ailment; she ignored the voices around her, all the people watching her – she pushed past all this and WENT to Jesus Himself, knowing He could heal her and ease her suffering (spoiler alert: Jesus did just that).

Beloved, I urge you to GO to the Lord in prayer regarding your burdens. People of faith have to take action to make it happen! Spend some time now in His Word and be still in His love.

Jesus will welcome you with open arms. He is gently saying to our hearts, “Well…come!”

“COME to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 ESV. What a beautiful and welcoming promise to those who go to the Lord!

Stay tuned for the next devotional, which will talk more about those overflowing suitcase-like burdens and how the Lord can alleviate them.

©2021 Rachel D. Lyne