“I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul” (Psalm 131:1b-2a).
As the owner of a small, simple soul I feel all the feels. This is both a blessing and a burden.
Images, sounds, and emotions get lodged in my head and affect my mood and invade my dreams.
Lately, I’ve become aware of a spiritual side-effect in which I need God’s help.
I have realized that after I approach God’s throne of grace on behalf of others, I feel heavy and sad. The emotions and needs communicated in their requests linger in my mind.
People speak about feeling “burdened” to pray, but this is different. I feel burdened after I pray.
But I should feel lighter after prayer. I should be able to find peace when, through prayer and petition, I make my requests known to God (Philippians 4:6). I was not designed to carry others’ burdens in my head and in my heart as if I am somehow responsible for their outcomes.
I asked God for insight.
He gave me a picture of myself bringing my concerns to His feet but refusing to let them go.
So now, when I pray, I visualize myself releasing each need, each concern, each burden, and laying them down in the shelter of His mighty presence.
Perhaps you, too, struggle to let go of burdens. If so, consider Psalm 131. “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul” (Psalm 131:1b-2a).
With the help of Jesus, we can learn to calm and quiet our souls. God made us the way we are, so if you are like me, we may always have the tendency to absorb the emotions of others. But we do not have to occupy ourselves with those things.
There are needs in this world that are simply too great for us.
But they are not too great for Jesus.
So let’s feel all the feelings. Let’s come earnestly in prayer. Then, let’s lay each need at Jesus’ feet, asking Him to help us let them go and trust Him with the outcome.
In that trust, Jesus will calm and quiet our souls.
Until next time,
Shelby
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