The Best Love Story.  By Sophia Archer.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” (Matthew 11:28-30).

I used to be a sufferer of anxiety.  I laid awake at night; I could not fall asleep.  The past couple of years, after I was reborn in Jesus, I found rest for my soul.  My head would hit the pillow, and I could fall asleep.  Recently, this world has me wandering in the valley, and I started to labor away at trying to control all of this worldly chaos, and anxiety started to seep into my body, the tightness, and heavy laden feeling of despair reared its crazy head again.  What is a woman to do?

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  I Corinthians 10:13

I prayed.  I am wiser than I used to be, and I asked my sisters in Christ for prayers.  Relief did not come quickly, but it is not to be in my timing.

“For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him,” (Ecclesiastes 8:6).

My dearest aunt is visiting me from many miles away, and she had the idea to watch “West Side Story” from 1961.  It is a classic, and I always enjoyed this because of the song and dance, a God-given talent that I am thankful people share.  As I watched the famous scene between Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, Tony and Maria singing their devotion to each other, my soul was filled with peace, peace only He could give.  I heard “I see you, see only ME!”

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully,” (Ephesians 3:18-19)

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears,” (Zephaniah 3:17).

Our God is greater than all my troubles.  I cannot control outcomes from others, I cannot fix every situation that befalls me in this world, I cannot understand why any of it happens, but I can look back and see what good experiences has come from the bad experiences, and I know He was with me all the way.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28).

I love Jesus, and I love that He is always there holding me up. All I need to do is remember whose yoke is light and will not burden me.  God bless all of you, my sisters in Christ!