Baggage Control

I had a dream that I was getting off work headed to my car. I opened my trunk throwing out bags into the dumpster. There seem to be a surplus of trash bags and other junk. A woman walked up to me and said that she needed me to unlock the doors because she needed help. I was in an irritable mood and I let her know very definitively my day was done. I’m always extending myself beyond what I feel I should. In my dream I felt shame for being rude and turning someone in need away. Yet I did not turn back to correct my actions I simply drove away.

Now this dream seemed to end about there and I wondered what it meant. Lately, I've had feelings of extending myself to the needs of others and ignoring my own. I made excuses for my resentment for things I chose to undertake. I thought maybe the setting at work reflected feeling over worked. Then I decided to seek the word of God to help me understand thoroughly what I was meant to receive from this dream.

Today’s Reflections:

• Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

First, we must acknowledge that we are imperfect beings and when tired, we are highly likely to operate less than optimal towards others. Can you recall a time that your day was off to a irritable or troublesome start? How did you engage with others?

Where you short, rude, or dismissive? Did you later feel the weight of your actions? Did you say to yourself, “you know what I am just in a bad mood, they didn’t deserve that.” If you can identify with these feelings then I bring you back to Matthew 11:28. Here God invites us to his grace. He tells us that we may come to him with our burdens that weigh us down. The scripture here isn’t just about tiredness, it is about God’s grace that is extended to us even in moments of sin. Believers carry that weight around because as children of God we know better. Non-believers are not weighted, their conscience does not hold them down. We know how we should treat our neighbor, our brothers and sisters. So when we fall short of that we feel bad. God tells us, those of you who are weary and burdened come to me and you shall have rest. Now how do we know that God wants us to find rest in him? Because in Matthew chapter 11:29-30 the words says:

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We are reminded that the Son of God has already come as an example in the flesh of how to live. His attributes of being gentle and humble in heart are pointed out. We are brought back to how we as his children should be obedient and mindful of our behavior. We are also given grace; his yoke is easy and his burden is light. We do not need to worry ourselves trying to fight battles not meant for us to carry because Jesus has already overcome the shadows of darkness in this world. He is able to carry our burdens so that we may not have to do so.

Now, revisiting that dream, I carried the feeling that I was tired, overworked, and rude. I even felt bad for my demeanor. But God knows our troubles and he takes them on for us offering us rest for our souls even when we know we have wronged someone. However, I challenge us with this---what are you carrying that has jeopardized your ability to be gentle and humble like the Father? Are you carrying the issues of others? Are you trying to tackle your loved ones problems? Are you weighed down by the injustices in the world around you? Maybe you are the peace maker in your family but that role has drained you and you have become irritated and bitter when someone calls on you for support. Maybe you know you have responded in ways you regret and wish that you hadn’t and now your spirit is weighed down because you cannot seem to forgive yourself.

It is time sister to look to the one who invited you to cast your burdens on Him and to seek not only forgiveness for the space you’re in but to access the rest for your soul. John 14:1-2 “Let not your hearts be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” Jesus came so that we may live in eternal peace. The Father loves us unconditionally and he grants us access to be restored and calls us to peace even now in the season that we are going through. As Christians we are also growing and developing, we will fall short, we will experience tiredness, we may even slip into irritability but you do not have to be weighted with worry. You do not have to take on the suffering of others, isn’t that good news! Sometimes we indirectly take the role of the Father trying to help others and solve their problems. We do not have to carry it all. You can release those cares and live life more abundantly.

Prayer Father in Heaven thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for inviting me to rest that I may not have to carry the weight of others or even my own transgressions. Sometimes I am not at my best and I respond in ways not reflective of you. I ask you Father to forgive me of these moments and restore my spirit. Father help me practice gentleness and humility. On days where I am weak and feeling tired, remind me of your sacrifice so that I may also practice understanding and patience. ~ Amen