Transport For Christ

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, despite being in the form of God, emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant rather than viewing equality with God as something to be attained."

—Philippians 2:5-7

When my thoughts become too loud, I return to these verses. when I feel overextended. How did it get this heavy? is the silent question that lurks behind everything.

This is the issue, to put it simply.

Trying to keep ourselves together wears most of us out.

We bear both our own and other people's expectations as we envision them. We hold on to control because it feels risky to let go. We strive for proficiency, assurance, and acceptance. It sometimes seem like we have to earn even our slumber. But somewhere along the line, trust becomes stress. Mental health becomes a personal burden. And we begin to think that being strong entails not requiring assistance.

That road is familiar to me. Several times, I have walked it. Getting ready for a visit while sitting in the car. The same notion keeps coming back to me when I wake up around three in the morning. I'm curious as to why prayer seems thin when I need it to be thick. I'm wondering whether I'm flawed because I find it difficult to simply "trust God" more.

Philippians then cuts me off.

In its simplicity, the Big Thought here is almost unnerving:

Jesus made the decision to let go even though he had every right to cling on. Not because I'm weak. out of affection. He did not cling to power, rank, or painlessness. He drained himself. He went down. He pretended to be a servant. Rather of staying out of our vulnerability, he entered it.

Perhaps I'm not being faithful at all because God's own attitude toward the world is one of self-giving rather than self-protection. Perhaps it's fear masquerading as accountability.

In ways we don't usually express ourselves aloud, this is important for mental health. Grasping, attempting to control results, controlling everyone's emotions, demonstrating our value, and avoiding loss are all major sources of internal conflict.

The fist gets tense with anxiety.

It is burdened with depression.

Burnout persuades us that we can't let go because everything would collapse.

Jesus, however, offers us an alternative.

Erasing oneself is not the same as emptying. It's letting go of the delusion that you were always supposed to bear everything. It's having faith that God is there in both power and submission.

Here is somethings to consider.

• In prayer, identify one thing you've been holding on to too tightly and let it go to God.

• If you've been carrying more than you should have on your own, ask for assistance.

• Allow yourself to relax without having to earn it.

• Alternatively, spend five minutes sitting quietly and accepting that "not being okay" is real without passing judgment.

This week, cultivate the mentality of Christ by letting go just enough to accept what God is already providing, rather than by working harder.