As we approach 2024, we stand at the threshold of new beginnings and endings. We are embarking on a new season of our walk with Christ, and it’s important to take stock of where we are and where we’re headed.
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
~ Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
Recently, during a Bible study, I was reminded of a message from God that I believe is relevant to all of us, especially women who are burdened with past pain, dealing with work, home, and careers, and feel that life has come to a precipice and failure is imminent. It’s a message about the need to unload, to let go of the burdens that weigh us down and hold us back. As God reminds us in His word, “the path to truth, the path to God the Father, is narrow and few will be able to walk it.”
“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.”
~ Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
We cannot move forward into this new season while still carrying the weight of the past. The disappointments, deferred hopes, and baggage we carry with us will only hinder our progress. Feeling stuck is a signal that God is actively engaged in clearing our souls and severing ties to the road behind us. This biblical process aims to bring us back to simplicity, our first love, and what truly matters in our spiritual journey.
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
~ Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
God is graciously untangling each of us from toxic influences that have brought pressure, division, and conflict to our calling. The breaking of soul ties with people and movements, left unaddressed, has kept us in bondage, confusion, and soul-sickness.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
~ Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
As we embark on this journey of unloading, let us reflect on Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV): “Sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” May this verse inspire and guide us as we heed the divine call to unload and move forward in our spiritual journey.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Tomorrow could be just a new day, or it could be your first step of courage into your new season, embrace this moment, and trust that God will guide your every step. As you move forward, remember that the journey is just as important as the destination and that every experience, whether good or bad, has the power to shape you into the person God created you to be.
May we all walk in faith, hope, and love, and may our lives be a testament to the goodness and grace of our Creator.
