“Oh no! Not again!” I thought when a chronic health issue resurfaced recently. I was disappointed and dismayed. And I certainly had a hard time giving thanks in it, even though I am right in the middle of teaching a class on Choosing Gratitude.

In my last 2 blogs, I’ve given you 8 steps on how to release your burdens. Now I want to specifically address one type—the most important one—Guilt. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. (Ps 38:4) Did you know there are 2 kinds of guilt?

We don’t have to live downtrodden; carrying such heavy loads. We have help. Last time I gave you 3 steps in relieving your burdens. Here are 5 more. Step 4: Allow the Holy Spirit to enable you. By cooperating with God, the Holy Spirit will not only teach you but enable you to bear your load.

Life is hard, filled with as many types of burdens as there are grains of sand. But life can also be good. Our heart-breakers need not be back-breakers! We can be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome this heart-breaking world (Jn 16:33). How, you may ask?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28) Today is the 4th of July in which we celebrate the freedom of our country.

It’s 3 a.m. You can’t get back to sleep. That “issue” keeps invading your mind. You’ve prayed, given it to the Lord, chosen to trust Him, yet your mind is bombarded with the replay of that negative situation or a myriad of what if’s.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (Is 40:26, emphasis added) Look up at the sky on a clear night out in

Drifting through life, living unfocused and in ambiguity. That describes many people. Does it describe you? Why do so many live like that? There are many reasons—lack of knowledge, lack of intentionality, lack of motivation, lack of purpose….

It was many years ago. I was just doing some chores around the house, thinking about God, enjoying the sense of His presence. I had had a good quiet time with my Savior that morning, though nothing extraordinary.

There you are, feeling like someone pushed you out of the plane without a parachute—freefalling again! You simply cannot stop thinking about this all-consuming issue. What do you do? Worry, fret, or pray? We are told to pray in times like these (Phil 4:6-7). But is that all we can do during meltdown moments? As