I asked the Lord why my life has seemed hard, with so little fruit and why the fruit I do have is often quickly devoured. The very next day, He led me to I Peter 5:6-8: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The word adversary is the Greek word “antidikos,” which is a legal term for one who presses a lawsuit that must be defended. So, the implication in the context is that if you do not bring your worries and cares to God, the devil will be able to devour you. And this devouring must be dealt with in the courts of heaven.
David said a similar thing in Psalm 55:22, “So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.”
I was reminded of the story of Mary and Martha, when Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, while Martha was “careful and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:38-42). And we see from the parable of the seed and the sower that the “cares of this life” cause our lives to be unfruitful (Matthew 13: 1-23; Mark 4:1-20).
I went to a heavenly counsel room where the Spirit of Wisdom (Isaiah 11:1-2) was very large, sitting at the head of a rectangular wooden table. She was beautiful, glowing. She looked at me and smiled with great compassion, not despising my ignorance but happy that I was asking the questions. She spoke, “Dear child, you know that you are shifting from being a slave to being a king.” She then reached deep inside of me and pulled out something that looked like a walnut, which was the seed of a place in my soul where I felt sadness and outrage at being at the mercy of things beyond my control. She threw it into the Sea of Forgetfulness, and it was gone forever. She said, “This seed has been producing ‘after its kind’ in spite of your best efforts to rule and reign and to succeed. Now you will find it easier to flow in the right direction. When the root is removed, there is no more fruit.” And sure enough, the emotions connected to that victim cycle and feeling like a slave vanished away.
I then inquired, “What is my life to look like?” Wisdom responded, “What do you want it to look like? Desire is the biggest motivator.” In struggling to answer her question, I realized that hope deferred has taken its toll, devouring my dreams and desires.
Suddenly I was with Jesus on the Trading Floor. He said, “Give your disappointments and all your weariness to Me. Yes, you have been devoured by the cares of this life and have grown weary carrying things you were never meant to carry. Do you now see why I am insistent about Sabbath rest for mankind? Good thing I AM your Sabbath rest!” Then He began to teach me from Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto 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.”
The actual Greek words translated more like this: “Come to Me, all who work hard and are weary, tired and exhausted with toil, burdens or grief and are overburdened, and I will cause you to cease from any movement or labor, so you can recover and collect your strength. I will give you rest and refreshing, so you can return to a quiet place of calm and patient expectation. Take My yoke (balance, as in pair of scales) and live out of your oneness with Me. Learn what I am really like and understand Me by use and practice, and you’ll discover that I am gentle, humble and easy to please. I lead rather than drive you. I am not a hard taskmaster. Your soul will find rest and recreation. The things that I require of you are useful, good, manageable, pleasant and delightful (as opposed to being harsh, hard and bitter). The burden that you bear with me is light and easy. Come to Me, and I will cheer and refresh you. I am cheerful and humble in heart, and you will find rest, refreshing and cheer for your soul.”
So, living out of my oneness with Christ brings me out from under the heavy yoke of false responsibility, religion, self, the flesh and the demands of life. He teaches me by example to enjoy our tasks and responsibilities, because He is joyful, fun, passionate, enthusiastic and easy to please. His joy is my strength!