Daily Delight
It happened when I was twelve; the overwhelming sadness that I could not define or begin to navigate. At sixteen, I went to my mom with it and I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Soon after, I started go let my diagnosis define my life. The SSRI’s I was prescribed became my savior and the only things that could get me through the day. Thankfully, Jesus intervened in my life two years later and allowed for me to experience the love that completed me.This is not to say that I do not struggle. Believe me, I do. The weight of the world builds up in my chest and I find the heaviness unbearable. At times I can barely breathe. But I have a Savior that carries the burden for me. Jesus states in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy leaden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (ESV). I remember when I read this verse for the first time. The word heavy specifically stood out to me, as that was the specific word that I used when explaining my depression to my therapist. Jesus called me to Him in my heaviness, my brokenness, my mental illness.He calls you, too.Jesus bore the cross so that we could find our rest in Him. I find myself extremely exhausted most of the time (a symptom of depression and the cause of my love for coffee). However, instead of resting in Him, I find myself filling the day with tasks that I complete while fueled on caffeine. Resting in Jesus is spending time in the Word, time in prayer, and time in worship. When we rest in Him, our heaviness is replaced with the light burden of Jesus. This aspect of the verse seems to contrast the persecution of the Church, but Christians are not told that they will not struggle or meet trials. In fact, these are guaranteed. However, placing our dependence upon Jesus allows for Him to carry our burdens.Cast your burdens upon the Creator and find true rest in taking up the Cross. {photo: @brittneyborowski}
About the Author
Rachel Schlotzhauer
Rachel is a recent college graduate from Grand Canyon University. Her passions include serving high schoolers at her local church and writing poetry. Rachel lives in Phoenix, AZ, with her family (including her three sisters).