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Day 25 What Are You Carrying?

Yesterday I drove up to New Hampshire to visit Ian (my boyfriend). I got there later in the afternoon and I had spent the morning working on things at home.  About an hour after I got to NH, we went to the Fall Festival at his church across the border in Vermont. By the time we got there, it was dark already, I was pretty tired and hungry, and this event was HUGE.  Much bigger than I expected. It was really cool-- food trucks, pony rides, laser tag, trunk-or-treating, Incredibles 2 playing on the side of the church, the works.

But. Of course. My anxiety decided to form a lens over my eyes.  The crowds of people around me grew louder and I felt trapped amongst the hundreds of bodies.  My heart started to beat faster with every person who walked by. I have anxiety, I've mentioned this before, and many times large crowds will bring it on. I'm sure many of you know the feeling. And it can be the worst. Here I was, looking forward to having a fun time and enjoy celebrating my favorite season, but the pit in my stomach and the weight that seemed to sit on my lungs made it difficult to relax. 

I believe this happens to all of us on some level all the time.  There's something, I don't know what it is for you, but sometimes it just weighs on you.  You carry it in your soul because it feels like walls closing in and there's no other option but to freeze or try to cope.  What are you carrying today? What is the lens through which you are looking at the world right now?

My prayer for you is that you can identify this, whether it's positive or negative.  Know what you carry.  Know how you see your life.  Know your heart.  And then give it to God. Let your soul breathe.  Easier said than done, I know, but uncurl one finger at a time from whatever your clenching in your fist.  Let your Father take your burdens and help you breathe easy for a moment.  He loves to do it.  Rest in his presence.  His yoke is easy.  His burden is light. 

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