It’s funny how we’re always thinking about the things we should be taking on for God, when it may be more to the point to think about the things we should be letting go. Who among us trust Him enough to let go of worry about tomorrow, about money, about our appearance, about being socially “okay”? We voluntarily drag this ball and chain all day long, and then drag it into bed with us. It would be heroic if it weren’t mutinous.

I have tried both — doing things for God and letting things go. It’s easier to do something for God than to give up some pet fear. Easier but ridiculous, when you think of it. As the Lord said through the Psalmist: “If I were hungry, I wouldn’t tell you” (50:12).

Jesus invites us to go to His redemption center and make exchanges, and it’s a pretty good deal: Give Him our tomorrows, our cash flow problems, our okayness issues, our kids’ futures. And our end of the bargain is to deal with what’s on our plate today (Matthew 6). Day-size is doable.

Think about something you’re not giving up. Some fear you keep in a secret pocket and stroke when nobody’s looking. Kill the little darling, this instant. And if you can’t bring yourself to kill it, hand it over to Jesus and He’ll do it. Take his light load in exchange for your heavy one. His shoulders are broader than yours.