So I’ve got all sorts of high rolling things on my 2010 to-do list this year (sell a manuscript, stop buying diapers, lose the holiday weight that I so enjoyed gaining over our vacation), but today I came up with this one: Give it to Jesus.
How brilliant is that?
Here’s the thing about the Atonement. I try hard to repent for the many many many (many) things I do wrong on a regular basis, but I’m really bad when it comes to passing off my problems to the Lord. I haven’t really figured out yet how to give him my troubles, you know? Do I write them on a card and burn them, hoping the smoke will waft Heavenward? Do I send him a text? Stuff it in a helium balloon?
I’ll tell you, I’ve found so much comfort through prayer over the years, but until this very afternoon, I don’t think I’ve really ever been able to ascertain how to pass things off. It’s difficult for me to understand that I’m allowed to give Him my problems, aren’t they my problems so I can work and learn and grow and sometimes feel a little misery among all my happiness?
This afternoon I found myself stewing about a particular dilemma, going over it again and again in my mind, reviewing my options. The thing about stewing is that after a while you’re nothing but a big mushy mess of confused emotions, more troubled than you were to begin with.
As I was monologuing a heavy option in my head, my thoughts were interrupted with this little phrase, so delicately placed I almost missed it. The voice quietly said, “Or, you could just give it to Jesus.”
Something about it struck me. And so, mentally I tried something I’ve never tried. I said to the voice, “Well, okay. I’ll just give it to Jesus then.” And one by one I started giving him each and every element I could think of associated with this problem, passing them off to him like some kind of grocery list.
And every one I gave over, emptied completely from my mind. It was the most mentally and spiritually cleansing thing I’ve ever experienced, ever.
So this year give it a try. When you find yourself backed into a predicament that offers no way out, just give it to Jesus. You don’t always have to act on it, sometimes you can just pass it off and let it work itself out, no fireworks necessary. Hey, if He can’t handle it, no one can.
Oooh, I love this! I realize that I often don’t ask for help in other ways, like staying in tune with the spirit at my job, etc.
I had my identity stolen a few years ago at the same time that we were moving overseas to Russia. It was a nightmare of gargantuan proportions. I didn’t know how to cope with so much all at once. I was venting to a sweet lady I barely knew about it one day, and she said, “Honey, you need to just give it to Jesus and it will work out.”
I hadn’t even thought of that. I had prayed over it nearly every second of the day for weeks, but I hadn’t *given* it over. It made all the difference, the burden was much lighter, and it did work out just fine in the end.
Beautiful, thank you.
I think I’ll be trying this over the new year. Thanks for such a simple but beautiful sentiment.
I recently came up against this same dilemma. I had to say the same thing. There’s just no other way that I could deal with the situation–it was beyond my control. And you know what happened? The situation actually got better. I’ve been wondering how things have been more bearable and it all came back to this one simple thing–I gave it to Jesus.
And it’s made all the difference.
One of the best resolutions I’ve heard of so far.
This is something I don’t understand very well, either. Thank you for writing about it and helping me understand a bit better. I have a lot I should hand over to Jesus, so I will.
I just love your blog. And this is so what I needed to hear right now. To go a bit off subject (and boost your ego a bit, I am sure…) I just went through all bajillion of the blogs I stalked and dumped any of them that weren’t spiritually uplifting or of any personal value to me, and yours is the ONLY blog not food or family related that made the cut. Thanks for your awesome posts!
Thanks Annie, I really needed to read this. Advice I should take to heart!
Yes. Yes! Oh, Yes. If I were a Southern Baptist, I’d stand up and clap my hands and shout Amen. Oh, wait. I just did that. Right here in the frozen mountaintops. Good words. Great principle. Thanks, friend, for sharing. XO
I hope you don’t mind… I added this post to my notes on Facebook. I felt like this is one I need to read over and over and over again… I have GOT to work on Giving it to my Savior, he can handle what I cannot.
Thanks Annie… I needed this…
TONIGHT… Tina