I’ve been carrying something I shouldn’t be carrying. I thought I had given “it” over to God, but as it turns out, I kept picking “it” right back up. I made excuses as to why I was still carrying “it”, trying to make sense of why I just couldn’t shake “it”.

I tried & tried to leave “it” with Jesus, but “it” was like one of those teeny tiny styrofoam packing balls that no matter how hard you shake your hand over the trash can, that little sucker just stays put. This was like that.

I almost felt badly leaving this with Jesus. I know that sounds so crazy, but it was true. This was my mess, not His. He had already suffered on my behalf by dying for my sins, so why should I burden Him with this thing?

Why? Because, in keeping “it”, I was sinning—by being disobedient.

Jesus has told me to cast my cares on Him, because He cares me.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

He has told me that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, so if I am carrying this heavy burden, it is not of Him.

“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 11:29-30

When I am holding onto a burden, it takes part of my focus. It takes my joy, my abundant life.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

I carried “it” everywhere. So much so that it started affecting my mood, which in turn, affects the people whom I love most, my family. Something had to give.

God sent me my “something” yesterday in the form of a friend. As I visited with her, I began to share how I had been moody lately and how I tried to let go of this particular thing, but my attempts were unsuccessful.

My friend has this amazing gift of seeing things very vividly. I’m a visual learner, so this was right up my alley!

She told me to picture a snow globe. She told me that I could have a snow globe for each part of my life…my home life, my work life, my church life, my family life, etc. Then, she told me to visually select a snow globe that went with the burden I was carrying and assign a word to each of those snow flakes within the globe…whatever thought that I was carrying in that particular snow globe world was attached to a snow flake.

Man, I hope this is coming across correctly! Are you still with me? Okay then, let’s move on….

Now, she told me to visualize approaching the throne room of heaven where Jesus is sitting. On the arm rests of His throne are many snow globe holders (like cup holders in a vehicle). She told me to approach the throne of Jesus and to hand over my snow globe, where Jesus would take it & place it in one of the holders.

At that point, everything clicked into place, almost like the internals of a lock when a key is inserted. That visual image made it possible for me to completely hand “it” over. I instantly felt a million pounds lighter and the tears started to flow. I WAS FREE. I was burden-less. It was now in the care of Jesus, where it belonged all along. Those snow flakes in a snow globe are so tiny, which is exactly how my burden looks to God. To me, it was huge and unbearable to carry. To Him, it’s so very tiny & is just a speck.

I wasn’t doing Jesus any favors by carrying this for so long; all it was doing was hurting me and the ones around me. Knowing that “it” is in the care of Jesus, I can focus. I have my joy back. I am not hurting those around me with my bad mood (thank goodness my husband and children are so forgiving!).

There’s a second component to this…if you are a follower of Jesus and you are not in a position where you are using your spiritual gift(s), may I encourage you to do so? If you don’t know what your spiritual gift is, ask God; believe me, He’ll be thrilled you are asking and He will show it to you. I say this because I’m so thankful that my friend was willing to share her gift with me. Could there be someone who will be blessed by you and your God-given gift?

By the way, guess what has been sitting on my computer desk since two weeks ago when it needed to be moved off a piece of furniture we were getting rid of?

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A snow globe.

How awesome is our God?! This is where I spend a lot of my time. It’s where I study for the Sunday School lesson before anyone else in my house awakes. It’s where I type these blog posts. It’s where I do my couponing.

Now, it’s also where I can remember to give God my snow globes.