Even the Little Things

One day in the grocery store, I was caught in the fallout of the prevalent “I don’t need a cart” mentality. As I perused the apples, I noticed a man carrying four 2-liter bottles of soda in his arms. Just as he passed me, one of the large bottles slipped from his arms and hit the tile floor. The angle of the impact was just right to be wrong – for me.

The lid popped off and a powerful shower of Coca Cola covered me and my cart. The man glanced at me, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “Huh. Who would’ve thought that would happen?” Then he walked away. No apology. No offer to get me a paper towel. When I got home, I not only had to take a shower, I also had to wash all my groceries before I put them away.

Okay, I’ll confess. Many times, I too have gone into the grocery store and decided against getting a cart because I “only need a couple of things.” As I rush down the aisles to get the bread, milk, and bananas I usually end up seeing other things I really need too. Then before you know it my arms are overloaded and I end up leaving a trail of things behind me as I make my way to the checkout line.

Unfortunately, I do the same thing with life’s little problems and stresses. When just one or two small things come along, I often fail to turn them over to God. “I can handle that… and I can handle that…” But before I know it, I’m weighed down with a myriad of things I really can’t handle on my own.

If you are anything like me you may sometimes find it harder to cope with life’s little things than the major trials. I trust too much in myself and too little in God. In my sinful independence and arrogance, I think, “I can do this. I don’t really need to bother God with this one.” But when I fail to give everything to God right away - no matter how seemingly insignificant – all those little things tend to mount up into one giant mess.

Are you weary from trying to carry an armload of life’s troubles all by yourself? Jesus urges us to bring all our burdens to Him:

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)

David, the shepherd boy and great king of Israel, intimately knew the great Burden Bearer: 

Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22, NIV)

So did the Apostle Peter: 

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)

Don’t wait until you’re buried under a pile of cares before you come to Jesus. Bring the first one and every one to Him.

Copyright © Kathy Howard. This article was previously published in Arise Daily on February 4, 2019. Used with permission.