Throwing it off

Inside our wedding bands, my husband and I had the verse reference Hebrews 12:1-3 inscribed. This verse was always a theme for us. The first time I really heard about it was from my husband. He gave a "chapel talk" during a training course we were in (before we knew each other well) and chose this passage as his theme about the Lord's discipline. He also referred to later verses in the chapter about how the Lord disciplines those He loves.

Over the course of the 20+ years we've known one another, this verse has come up time and time again. It was his life verse, and ours as a couple.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and run with perserverance the race marked out before us. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him, who endured such opposition from evil men, that you may not grow weary and lose heart.

On the weekend, I was inundated by a case of "poor me". Some people call it a Pity Party. I was struggling with my thought life. Any thought I had seemed to contribute to bring me into depression. I struggled and struggled for most of the day. I don't even want to write down some of the things that went through my mind.

Basically, the emptiness, loneliness and helplessness got to me.

Suddenly, this Scripture came into my mind. Thank you Holy Spirit! There is no other way, but to throw it off. Release forgiveness where it is needed. Press through the barrier of fear because fear is crippling, debilitating and gets me nowhere. Throw it off! Then run.

Later in the evening, my aunt sent this message out (one of those email forwards) and it really helped:

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience with a raised glass of water. Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'... She fooled them all .... "How heavy is this glass of water?" she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. To 20 oz.

She replied , "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... Pick them up tomorrow.


So, with a new perspective, I threw it all off and I'm a different woman this day than I was yesterday. I need to put the glass down occasionally. I need to throw off the thoughts that weigh me down and cause me to dwell in fear and anxiety instead of in the courts of the Lord.