This past week with Gillian without her “stuff” has been mostly great. We’ve had a few breakdowns and tantrums over “stuff” but she has recovered quickly.   She actually seems happier and less stressed now that she doesn’t have a bunch of junk to worry about.  Before this whole ordeal of taking everything away, she wasn’t that great. She hadn’t been eating that well, her anxiety levels were through the roof and our home felt like we had no peace in it. We were all at the end of our ropes and barely hanging on.  Since Monday she has been eating like a normal person should eat.  Which I think helps with being happy. Her anxiety levels are slowly diminishing and we are all feeling a sense of peace in our home. On Friday Gillian sat in the kitchen with me while I was food prepping for the week and we listened to music, had a dance party and laughed.  I haven’t enjoyed being around this child in so long.  My heart was so very happy.  On Friday nights we always go out for family dinner just the five of us and lately Gillian either didn’t want to go or she’d go and have a meltdown and we’d all be miserable. This past Friday night she was excited to go with us, ate all her dinner and was a joy to be around. It was a perfect family dinner out. Can’t remember the last time we had one of those. 

   Bottom line here is is that the “stuff” was weighing her down. The “stuff” had her so occupied that she couldn’t think about anything other than her “stuff”. Not even eating. She couldn’t enjoy life because all that “stuff” kept getting in the way.  Now that the “stuff” is gone she is free to enjoy her life and food and her family! Without her “stuff” she can now experience peace. 

   Can we just take a moment here and replace all the above “stuff” words and replace it with “sin”?  

-  Bottom line here is is that our “sin” is weighing us down. Our “sin” has us so occupied that we can’t think about anything other than our “sin”. Not even eating. We can’t enjoy life because all our “sin” keeps getting in the way.  Once our “sin” is gone we are free to enjoy our lives and food and our families. Without our “sin “ we can experience peace.-

   That “sin” space can be filled with a number of different things- An addiction (food, drugs, shopping, porn, gaming, sex, Netflix binging, etc...), laziness, gossiping, sinful anger (there is righteous anger but that’s now what I’m talking about here), judgment, and more. The bottom line is that sin keeps us from God and from enjoying Him.  Just like Gillian’s “stuff” kept her from enjoying her life. We become so preoccupied with our sin, whether it’s doing the sinful act or trying to hide the sin so others don’t know about it. It keeps us focused on it rather then being focused on Christ, the One who already paid the horrific debt for that sin. The One who’s waiting for you to let the sin go so you can enjoy the freedom he ransomed Himself for!  

   So let me ask you this, what can you put in that “stuff” blank?  What sin is weighing you down and keeping you from enjoying life?  What sin has you so preoccupied that you can’t see anything past it?  

Matthew 11:28-30 says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

    Lay down your “stuff” at the cross and take up the yoke of Christ.  He wants to give you rest from the burdens of the sin you’ve been carrying around. 

————————————