I’ve grown a little tired of putting on my “big girl pants” lately. Have you? Are you tired of saying, I’ve got this, I’ll take care of that, I’ll figure it out? Has it all been too much? Too many difficult decisions? Too many unexpected hurdles? Too many heavy loads to carry?

Just put one foot in front of the other, the world says to us. Do the next right thing and all will work itself out. But if Jesus were standing here with us today, I really don’t think He would tell us these catchphrase sayings. I think instead He might say something like this.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…” (Isaiah 55:1).

“‘Come!’…And let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life…Yes, I am coming…” (Revelation 22:17, 20).

If you’re struggling right now, like I have been, if life feels heavy and hard and overwhelming, I want you to know you are not alone. And if those “big girl pants” fit  a little more like suck-in-your-stomach too-tight skinny jeans, don’t listen to the world. Listen instead to what Jesus says. Come.

He understands what you’re going through. He cares about every single big and small thing happening in your life. He’s for you. He’s with you. He loves you. And more than anything, Jesus doesn’t want you to have to suck-it-in, suck-it-up or just take it. No, He wants you to come and bring it all to Him.

*First published by The Joyful Life Magazine.