As I prepared for this blog, I believe God gave me an image.

An adult male sat in a chair and a young child (like a toddler) came up to him to be held. The man reached out his arms to receive the child; the child was content to be on his lap and just be held.

Then I saw a different scenario play out. The same man sat in a chair. The same child came up to him to be held, however, this time the child had their arms full of toys. I personally know how awkward this is when it happens with a young child (being a mom, as well as working with many children over my life). It’s challenging – to say the least – when a child wants to be held but is unwillingly to put down the toys in order to be held.

I felt like God was teaching me that this is how some of His children come to Him. They come with all of their “stuff” that they carry around (such as: worries, anxieties, stress, hurts, even other people) and they still want their Heavenly Father to hold them and all their “stuff”. Yet, the Father just wants to hold them. He can handle the stuff, but He wants to hold His children.

Scripture says to “cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you”. (Psalms 55:22) So, all of our “stuff” like I mentioned before – worries, anxieties, stress, hurts, and yes, even other people – we are to cast them upon the Lord. Each of us who chooses to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior is responsible for our own personal relationship with Him. Sure, if you’re a parent, you have an obligation to God about raising your children, but as some point, they have to make their own choices in life and deal with their own consequences for those choices. (Remember, a consequence is the result of a choice – good or bad.)

The choice is yours; hold on to all your stuff or be held by the One who created you and loves you the most.

I usually end my blogs with a Scripture passage, however today I want to leave you with the song lyrics of Just Be Held by my favorite band, Casting Crowns. Love and prayers, Sharon

Just Be Held

Song by

Casting Crowns

Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on

And when you’re tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There’s freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away
You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place
I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held And not a tear is wasted
In time, you’ll understand
I’m painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

If your eyes are on the storm
You’ll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You’ll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you’ll understand
I’m painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away
You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place
I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you’ll find Me
And where you are, I’ll hold your heart
I’ll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who won’t let go

So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away
You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place
I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held (stop holding on)
Just be held, just be held

Just be held, just be held, just be held