Just a Thought: It's Not About You

This phrase has been silently bouncing around my mind for the last week or so, and I’m starting to understand it more deeply. “It’s not about you” is a phrase that’s taken some weight off my shoulders. Where I tend to focus on fine-tuning every aspect of myself, the Lord says “take my yoke.” His burden is literally lighter than my own.

What’s this mean? What’s the point? Try something with me. Think about a friend of yours or a family member, someone you care about; or try a project that’s occupying your mind, stressing you out. This works especially well if they’re someone/something you worry for or pray for often. Ask yourself this question: How much of your time spent thinking about this person or thing is actually spent thinking about ‘your ability’ to help this person or accomplish some end goal?

If you’re anything like me, the answer certainly isn’t “(almost) none of it” or “just a bit of it.” It’s more like, “well, how am I supposed to help them (or how can I do Y & Z) if I can’t do X?” I’m sure you can fill in the blanks. This is the trouble: I’ve made serving God and serving others—loving God and loving others—about me and my ability to do so. Jesus didn’t die for that. His blood relieves us of the burden of results.

You might not be in this boat—and if that’s the case, God bless you and keep serving selflessly. But if you’re anything like me, it could do you well to let go of the circumstances and the results, even if just for a moment, and to ask the Lord what’s actually required of you. The answer, in my experience, is often “less than you think.” So, if you’re in a moment where it feels like the weight of the world is sitting on your shoulders for whatever reason, I’d encourage you to take a step back.

Turn your eyes away from yourself and turn them to the Lord, turn them to the people around you, and be ‘present’ with them. As difficult as it may be to understand, your world will not fall apart if you take your hands off of it. In fact when you acknowledge your weakness and surrender yourself to the Lord, it’s then that you can trust that what’s on your mind is being taken care of. Whatever it is that’s on your mind will likely appreciate you loosening your grip a bit too. At the end of the day, it’s not about you, anyway.

Be blessed.