New Year Resolution: I Shalt Not Stress

Happy New Year!

1st week of Jan and we are all heading back to the grind! Even as we are warming up to take 2022 head on, I wanted to share my resolution with you.

In 2022 - I will not stress, I will not be burdened. Hold on. Before you think I’m headed for a long beach vacation, let me clarify.

I realized I spent a lot of 2021 being burdened, bogged down, burnt out by the weight of my responsibilities. To the point that I dreaded some tasks I would have originally LOVED to do. Stress is everywhere and the sad part is we think it is normal to be stressed out, it is normal to be bogged down by the burdens of life.

Being stress-free may be less about avoiding situations and tasks that trigger stress and more about changing our perspective on how to handle those situations and tasks at hand.

Let's be real. Life is not going to get miraculously easy. We will all (most probably) have more on our plate in 2022 compared to last year.

You may ask - “So what are you going to do differently this year Mridula?”

Now there might be many ways to handle stress, but the ONE THING I am going to practice this year is ….. *drum roll* …. everyday, intentionally, on priority submit the burdens of my heart to Jesus. There it is!

In Matthew 11 Jesus says, “28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The “yoke” in this passage refers to the yoke around the neck of 2 bulls who plough together. Jesus is literally saying “I will share your burden, I am with you in this.”

We are so used to carrying our burdens ourselves, we forget that the burden is supposed to be light in the first place. The fact that we find our burdens heavy means we have not allowed Jesus to lift it.

This life is supposed to be enjoyable and productive (John 10:10)

So yes, this year I choose to - Walk with Jesus. Habitually, intentionally live a life of being yoked with Jesus. Daily practice exchanging my heavy burden with His light one. I hope you will too!!

Have an enjoyable and productive 2022!

About the Author:

Wife to Danston, Mridula is a worshipper and a teacher in the body of Christ. She works in the field of data analytics and consulting in the pharmaceutical domain. She hails from Darjeeling, India and needless to say loves her Darjeeling tea!