“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”
–Psalm 55:22 (NLT)

As you may know from our past devotions, we moved into a new house a few weeks ago. If you’ve ever moved before, you’ll remember that one of the great joys of settling into a new house is unpacking all the boxes and storage containers you brought with you. Sometimes it can take a while to get everything out of each box, and get the new house organized. They say it’s great to have “a place for everything and everything in its place”, but sometimes that’s easier said than done.

In the same way, each of us tends to carry around emotional baggage at times. We may be burdened by past issues, present-day problems, or worries about the future. Perhaps the problems on our minds are not personal. Each day, the world seems to sink deeper into its own troubles, and we’re inundated with awful news reports that stay on our minds long after we turn off the TV.

So what do you do with all your heavy emotional baggage? Your family and friends may be a source of comfort to you, but they aren’t always around, and they may not always be able to help you out. You may turn to your job or a hobby in order to express your feelings, or distract yourself from thinking about your troubles. But distractions will only keep you busy for a short while, and sooner or later you’re feeling angry or worried or depressed again. Professional counseling is always an option. But a counselor’s advice may not be the answer to your problem, and it may cost more than you can afford.

The world offers several ways to cope with stress, anger and depression. But as you can see in the above scripture, God is always available and ready to hear and respond to all of your cares and your problems. And of course, God’s help is always free and freely given.

The Bible states that God has promised to hear and answer all of your prayers. Sometimes God’s answer may not be what you expected, or it may take longer in coming than you imagined. But God will hear and answer you, in His own way and His own time. I know from experience that God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, will come upon you once you have given all your cares and problems to Him.

I pray that you will begin turning to God when worries or problems get you down. If you haven’t already dedicated yourself to God, study about Him in the Bible. Then, humbly ask Him to forgive your sins and take control of your life. If you’re already a Christian, I challenge you to re-dedicate yourself to following Jesus Christ, and listening for His voice in your daily life.

In our fallen world, there may not be enough storage space for your emotional baggage. But God has unlimited room for you if you promise to believe in Him, and He has promised to hear and answer all of your prayers. So start unloading your burdens at God’s feet today. You’ll never regret having God in your corner.

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870. Finally, check out our online store at www.amway.com/burdicksbargains. In order to support us, please register for free on our store website before purchasing anything. Thank you!

If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 641-715-3900, ext. 874157.