lostnowfoundk's Blog

(Republished with permission – this article initially appeared on Christian Today Australia)

There is an unparalleled warmth and comfort found in the arms of a parent who embraces their child. One Sunday, both my husband and I felt God speak this word to us during the worship.

“Let me carry you.”

With so many decisions, appointments, worries and commitments in our lives, we felt a God-given pause and offer of peace.

“Give me your burdens. Let me carry you.”

Over the next few months, my eyes opened to the many burdens in my life I could give to God. One by one, I passed them over and accepted instead the peace provided by my loving, Heavenly Father.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter chapter 5, verse 7)

. . .

Worry

There are so many things we could worry about! Through the years, I have seen people work through worries of all sorts and this has expanded my own understanding and awareness of the suffering there is on earth. Stable relationships, financial freedom, job security, housing, family supports, peace between world nations; at any time, something could change. So, what do we do with our day-to-day responsibilities and thoughts? Should we worry? Should we simply flit through life completely carefree?

To worry is to be anxious and troubled about what could or is happening. It is important to plan and to steward well the lives we have on earth, but it is also impossible to calculate every possibility. We will all face challenges in life.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew chapter 6, verse 34)

We can choose each day to give our worries to God and trust that He will look after us, protecting us and providing us with all we need.

. . .

Identity

Tim Keller mentions the impact of “identity factors” in a number of his sermons. Using the example of work, he explains that “If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.” 

Using this test, I have discovered a number of identity factors in my own life that have needed to take a lower priority. Keller expands on what it looks like to have an identity carried by Christ.

“See, if you are a sinner saved by grace, if you have your identity in Jesus Christ, if it’s been given to you by grace, on the one hand you are humble into the dust because you’re such a sinner that Jesus had to die for you, and you weren’t able to achieve it. But at the same time you are able to affirm to the skies because he accepts you and loves you and that means you’re bold and humble at once. No other system of thought, no other culture, no other approach to identity create that kind of person. None!” (Tim Keller, Identity That Can Handle Either Success or Failure)

This is the kind of identity I want to have, one fully grounded on the solid rock of Christ.

. . .

Purpose

What do we do on earth? The older we get, the more we may consider the legacy we leave on the earth. What was the purpose of our lives and did we make the most of it? Did we run the good race and will we finish well?

Knowing that God has a plan and purpose for our lives also gives us a peace for our future. He already knows and has planned it to be good. We don’t need to compare ourselves to others because God made each one of us uniquely able to fulfil a calling and role on earth that only we can do.

In the book of Esther, Mordecai challenges his niece, now Queen of Persia, to speak up for the persecuted Jewish people. He tells her, “… who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther chapter 4, verse 14)

We have been born for the time we are living in, and God planned it that way. He will guide us and give us courage to run this race of life.

. . .

Peace

My daughter often asks us to read a particular Bible verse we have clipped near our dining table.  

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John chapter 14, verse 27)

Peace He gives to us. It is a peace that carries us over our worries, gives us confidence in identity and purpose, and lets us have joy even in the darkest times.

God carries us, He embraces us, and He gives us peace.