Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Stinky Stuff
Suzie, a mom of six, came home from running a quick errand and noticed that the house seemed oddly quiet. When she peeked out the back window, she spotted all six of her kids squatting in a circle. As Suzie quietly approached them, she saw that the kids were enamored with six baby skunks. She screamed, “Quick, kids — RUN!” Each one grabbed a skunk and took off lickety-split. Obviously, Mom intended for the kids to leave the skunks and run for dear life.
If we’ve got stuff in our lives that stink, ask God to take it, and leave it with Him. Don’t play with it, carry it around, or baby it. God knows exactly what to do with stinky stuff, but you have to let him have it…for keeps. Sometimes life stinks for different reasons. Sometimes it’s not of our own making, e.g., health issues, financial setbacks, loss of job, economic challenges, etc. These are burdens to give to the Lord. But if our life stinks because it’s too full of appointments, over-commitments, unnecessary hassels, and time stealers, you’re the only person who can take charge of your own stinkin’ schedule. We can all benefit from making wise adjustments to obtain a more-balanced peaceful life.
“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22 NLT). According to God’s Word, believers are supposed to take our burdens to the Lord and leave them there. We’re not supposed to scoop ‘em up and take ‘em back when we finish praying. When we don’t actually release our burdens when we pray, I wonder if God rolls His eyes and shakes His head.
Charles Tindley, a Methodist pastor, spoke significant words to one of his worried parishioners: “Put all your troubles in a sack, take ‘em to the Lord and leave ‘em there.” Later in 1916, Pastor Tindley used his own advice to pen the lyrics and music for the beloved gospel hymn entitled, “Leave it There.” The fourth verse and chorus follows: “When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on, and your body bends beneath the weight of care. He will never leave you then; He’ll go with you to the end. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. Leave it there, leave it there. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. “Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 TPT).
Anxiety and prayer are two great opposing forces in the Christian experience. “Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5 AMP). We are told repeatedly in the Bible not to fret or have any anxiety or worries about anything. When we neglect to obey these scriptures, we end up with stinky thoughts of negativity and worry which steals our peace and ruins our days and nights. Instead of sprinkling a stinky mind with baking soda, let’s actually do what we’re supposed to do. Give our burdens to the Lord, then whistle a happy tune and walk away.
The Key: God knows what to do with stinky stuff. Do you?