PUT YOUR BURDENS INTO PERSPECTIVE:
Romans 8:28 New International Version (NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
have been called according to his purpose.”
Happy New Year and welcome to 2021. Many are making new plans and embarking on new beginnings. Countless people are excited to put 2020 behind them because so much occurred throughout the entire year. Most of the tragic events were totally unexpected, unheard of, and overall, very painful to the hearts of our entire world. The countless deaths, racial injustices seen on national television, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the tanking economy were too much to take in. The reality is that many are still coping with financial stress, depression, and grief just to name a few. It’s perfectly ok to feel what you feel. But equally as important is to find your happy place in the midst of these emotions. Try changing your perspective. You can’t change what you’ve gone or are going through, but you can change how you perceive them. Lay your burdens down and give it to God. But what is a burden? According to Webster’s Dictionary, it’s defined as “something that is carried; like a load” or “a duty; responsibility; something oppressive or worrisome. Out of nowhere, we found ourselves being hit with so many burdens last year, at times we felt they were too much to bear. Often, our burdens can feel so heavy, that ultimately, we feel unable to breathe at times. Not only do we feel as if they’re going to break us; they can build us as well. And that is the difficult part to uncover. It all begins with a choice. So, get the lesson, make the necessary adjustments and keep moving forward.
How you perceive things often determines its outcome. Think about how a particular experience may have affected you personally. It may be the heaviness that’s felt after suffering a loss. However, we must not allow those feelings to spiral us into depression. In the midst of our grief and pain, think about the person’s life and the memories they left behind. How did they make you feel? Focusing on positive aspects of their life or times they made you happy will bring you back to your happy place. Water those seeds of greatness within that you may not know existed. Initially, you may feel like you’ve been knocked down, but you were not destroyed. You may feel that the heaviness is too much to bear, but think about the person who is going through something far worse than you are. Viewing things from a different angle can make all the difference. Remove those persons from your life that mean you no good. Pray for them, but from a distance. How many times have others cared more about you pleasing them instead of pleasing yourself? This can leave little room for you to grow freely and discover all of the things you desire for your life. I once read a quote that states, “You can’t keep getting mad at people for sucking the life out of you if you keep giving them the straw.” How powerful, yet true, is this mighty, bold statement! Truth is not judgment. Truth is truth. If something happened; it’s still true. But that’s not stopping you from changing your perspective. Allow yourself some quiet time every day. Find a new hobby, turn off the TV, or disconnect from social media in order to focus on changing your mindset. Identify your burdens and seek out positive ways to cope and manage. Watch how you will grow. We all have wings. May we fly like the butterfly we are, aiming high in all things. Change your perspective and you can change your life.
It’s YOUR Time
As winter cometh with what it shall bring
So does that step toward new things
It’s a season all the earth
It’s a time for change
Windy and cold
Mighty and bold
It’s YOUR time!
Oh, I’ve been under
Way down deep
Yet the reflection I see
So frail, yet unique
Mirrored of me
Looking into my eyes
Oh, how I see
I see! It’s YOUR time!
A season of cold
Yet beams with shine
I hear the echo
It’s me! It’s YOUR time!
Raised up! I rise
From deceit! The Lies
Breaking of soul ties
Tears fall; loud cries
Look up! It’s YOUR time!
Right now! It’s MY time!
The wait is over…. It’s OUR time!
Stand and let’s face it…. It’s YOUR time!
Aleka W. Melson
2007
