It's Alright

I sat down on a chilly morning with a heavy heart and I laid my Bible on my lap. On this morning, I wasn't in the middle of any specific study or book and so I asked God if He had any ideas of what I should read. In those "I asked God" requests, I don't often hear anything clear but on this particular morning I did. Almost immediately He gave me a clear idea and direction. I obeyed, I read it, it was medicinal to my soul. God is kind.

I'm tempted to tell you what He told me to read but I won't. Not only was it a personal gesture from Him, it also isn't the point of this blog. The point is this: God responds to a heavy heart.

What do you do when you have a heavy heart? How do you care for yourself? There are so many ideas and approaches to this problem, not all of them bad. On the "healthy" end of the spectrum we exercise, journal, vent, call a friend or find a quiet spot to think and pray. Less healthy ideas are under the bury it, sooth it, mask it, drink it, sleep it or pretend categories. Maybe you lean toward a concoction of both...a little bit of healthy and a little bit of unhealthy. I do. At my healthiest, I go for a run or pray in my wood shop while I tinker. In my not so healthy, I've got a carton of ice cream, a late bedtime, sulking for too long...etc.

The Bible speaks often of those with a heavy heart. In the pages of Scripture we are given a dynamic painting of those who are burdened bringing their heaviness to God. This act of sharing the weight with the Father is given incredible validation in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus admitted to the disciples in Matthew 26:38 that His soul was "deeply grieved". What a powerful moment of vulnerability! Luke's Gospel is even more vivid, describing this heavy heart of Christ as "agony" causing Jesus' sweat to be "like drops of blood". In this nearly unbelievable weight, Jesus went to the Father in prayer. What are you doing with your heavy heart?
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And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. Now when He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you do not come into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground]. When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you do not come into temptation.” [Luke 22:39-46]

This morning I did not take agony to the Lord, just heaviness. My sweat wasn't like drops of blood...I wasn't even sweating. However, my heaviness was still heavy. So is yours. The burden you feel today is more than enough to bring to God. Our Father loves to be depended on. He loves to hear you out, to sit with you as you vent and listen as you tinker in the quiet of your hobby.

As I left my house and drove to work, I stumbled across a song I hadn't heard in a while. Not to over-spiritualize every little step of the day but, well, it felt nice. It felt consistent with His voice. I thought I would share it with you...in case your heart is heavy. Keep going, friend. God hasn't forgotten you. He cares. In His arms, no matter how heavy your heart, it's alright.
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