Losing Weight

Written by ​Allison Gardner - Heartland Church of Fort Wayne

Growing up, I had the absolute best dad.  He was loving, funny, protective, and wise.  I knew, no matter what, he was the guy I could depend on.  But when my grandma passed away during my junior year in high school, something changed.  The drinking became more frequent, and his behavior became more and more unpredictable. 
There was one night I vividly remember.  I sat on the front porch, staring blindly into the pitch black of night, begging God to make it all better.  My dad still wasn’t home.  It had happened before, and it would happen again. 

That was the night I began gaining weight.  It came in waves, and it compounded year after year, hurt after hurt.  The weight of rejection and fear, the weight of shame and perfectionism, the weight of anxiety and the need to control. 
For several years, I carried that weight around.  It got heavier and heavier until it was more than I could bear.  It was too much for me to carry.  But God. He rescued me.  You see, we were NEVER meant to carry those weights.  He showed me that trading my weights for His was the way to freedom. 

“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) 

What weight do you need to lose?  Is jealousy weighing you down with its chains of comparison?  Is the weight of bitterness or unforgiveness sagging your soul?  Maybe it is anger crushing you.  Maybe it is fear, lust, or rejection.  The list is long.  The weight is heavy.

BUT take heart.  His weight loss plan is simple.  Lay it down.  Lay it at the feet of Jesus, and run into your newfound freedom that is only possible because of His sacrifice.  

Watch and listen with me:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT5JrK1J6OU
​
Pray with me:  Jesus, thank You that You bore every sin and took on every weight as You gave up Your life for us.  Thank You that we don’t have to carry this weight any longer, and we can simply lay it down at the foot of the Cross.  Thank You for the freedom You give us in exchange for this weight we were never meant to carry.  Amen.
​