One of the most challenging aspects of moving from a tropical Caribbean island to an area with a temperate climate is adjusting to winter weather. As a college freshman, I struggled with the extra layers of clothing, including coats, sweaters, boots, hats, scarves, and gloves, which often got lost or forgotten somewhere. The additional clothing and severe weather conditions meant it took longer to get dressed and longer to commute than I was accustomed to.
It is then no wonder that when I would travel back home during the winter and rid myself of all the extra pieces of clothing, it was liberating! I could get ready quickly, move without any inhibitions, and feel at ease doing so.
Sometimes, life can feel like a gloomy winter where the sky is dark, the wind is bitter and cold, and your movements are slow and treacherous. These seasons of life are made even more difficult if we carry around burdens of guilt and regret, weights of our unmet expectations, and feelings of low self-worth. These loads wear us out and drain our energy, making it hard to pursue our purpose with passion and vitality.
The good news is that Jesus has offered to take these burdens so we can have liberty to thrive and to see our souls transition from winter to summer.
Here are some keys to making this happen:
1. Turn to God for help and deliverance from the vices and sins that keep us in bondage. A desperate desire for God’s help will achieve outstanding results because we acknowledge our weakness and our need for His strength. That is faith!
2. Embrace the forgiveness that God offers through Jesus Christ. God’s forgiveness covers past, present, and future sins.
3. Look at yourself the way God sees you. While God forgives us, sometimes we struggle with forgiving ourselves. Realize that when God forgives, He no longer holds that sin against us.
4. Seek God’s approval above everyone else and strive to live to please Him. This releases us from the pressures and expectations of pleasing others.
5. Know that God has given you the power to live victoriously and in true liberty.
Jesus gave a personal invitation to have liberty in Matthew 11:28-30, where He said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Paul then encourages us in Galatians 5:1 to never go back into bondage, ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’
So, if you are burdened with the weights that are slowing you down, step into the summer season of your soul, and let go of the load!