Whatever You're Trying To Carry Today, Lay It Down And Rest

"Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." lMatthew 11:28

Welcome back, Chosen and Crowned sisters! Last week, we talked about how you are part of the greatest love story ever told. If you missed it, click here. Since then, you and I have stepped through another week’s worth of that story. So let me ask you, how’s your week been?

Do you feel like you’re walking through a happily-ever-after story?

If your week has been anything like mine, your answer would be a big fat no! I'm so glad my feelings are not always an indicator of reality.

Maybe you’ve had people say some pretty nasty things to you. Maybe you’ve watched someone you love break down in tears. Maybe you broke down in tears. Sometimes life is so hard, it literally becomes hard to breathe. We cry out to hear whispers of God’s promises, but they feel lost in the fog of discouragement.

Sweet friend, take heart. Your happily-ever-after is coming. I promise. But until you walk onto those final pages, you must walk through chapters filled with hard things.

Those hard things will either destroy you or make you stronger. You get to choose. And here’s what I love about being Chosen and Crowned daughters of the King, we don’t have to weather the storms alone. We belong to the One who commands the wind and the waves. God has already written the end of the story, and guess what, he wins. He wins over the wind and waves of sickness, debt, shame, guilt, addiction, abandonment.

You name it. He wins.

Beautiful friend, let me cup your sweet face in my hand and whisper these words…you are His. He loves you and will never leave you. You cannot be separated from his love. Whatever you’re trying to carry on your own today, lay it down. Jesus wants to give you rest.

As you step through the pages of this next week, I want to leave you with some encouragement. The words are so powerful, I wish I could claim to have written them myself, but they are the words a friend of mine posted on facebook. 

May God open your eyes to see beyond the obstacles and through the storm so you can envision His next place of promise for you. May your doubts, worries, and fears take a back seat to faith, hope, and love. In fact, may others look up from their own storm because of how you trust God in yours. You are mighty in battle because God is mighty in you! Don't give up hope! Don't coddle your fears. Cling to the promises of God and walk forward in faith. Have a brave and courageous day.

Anna Frye is a speaker, author, television host and founder of the Chosen and Crowned tribe. She invites moms and wives to celebrate imperfect progress fueled by the grace of a perfect God. She helps women bravely talk about the messy places of life, instead of hiding shamefully under them. She believes that lasting beauty comes when women courageously surrender their ashes to God and allow him to do something mind-blowingly amazing with them. If this resonates with you, then you belong with the Chosen and Crowned tribe. Connect at www.ChosenAndCrowned.com/blog