The grudges, the jealousy, the mistakes, the perceived and real failures, doubts, fears–

The pain we clutch with clenched fists and bruised knuckles–

The razor sharp words and actions that cut us deeply and long ago that we’ve kept caged–

Open the steel door. Let them fly free out of your heart and out of your head.

It hurts to hold those painful things; it heals to free them. Unclench your fists and unwind your heart. Set boundaries because they’re healthy– but pray, forgive: others and yourself. Because it’s a lot harder to trap the pain in your heart where you can ruminate, rewind, and replay it–

than it is to set it free.

God is a willing listener. He even offers to fight the battle for us: “you need only be still” (Exodus 14:14).

We will all have trouble, trials. We weren’t meant to bury our burdens or carry them alone: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

photo by fotolia