Surrender

READ: PSALM 46; MATTHEW 11:28-30

Holding, grasping tightly,
Hands clenched,
Heart clenched,
Tightly.

Out of fear, mistrust.
Must not lose what I worked to get.
Earned? Or received?

Too tight, can hardly breathe,
I need to exhale, need to breathe.
Need.

Stuffed up, stopped up,
Losing it all anyway.
So, I pry my fingers away,
One by one, loosening up.
Opening up.

Heart unclenched,
Hands unclenched,
Exhaling, breathing.
Release, relief.
Surrender. • Allison Wilson Lee

• Can you think of a time you felt like today’s poem? What circumstances in life have been causing you to feel restless or anxious lately? Jesus knows what that feels like. He lived among us in this broken world, and He faced the terrible anxiety and anguish of the cross, all to make the way for us to be with Him forever. We can always turn to Him in our moments of restlessness and anxiety. He loves us, and He invites us to surrender our cares into His hands and find rest in His peaceful presence (Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 9:6). Consider taking some time to accept His invitation to be still and sit with Him in prayer, surrendering anything that comes to mind.

• God wants to help us in lots of ways—through prayer and Scripture, and also through the care and expertise of other people. When you find yourself feeling worried or anxious, who is a trusted person you could talk to? If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).

[Jesus said,] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)