No Take-Backs

No Take-backs”

I remember like it was yesterday...
Eight years old, sitting on the coarsely carpeted floor of my childhood bedroom with my very best friend, Stephanie. 

Stephanie and I had a lot in common-- she was the “sister" I had always wanted. We loved crafting; we loved Lisa Frank anything… and most of all we loved our sticker books.

Now, sticker books may be a foreign concept to newer generations (I am certain that I’m revealing my age, here!), but they were a pretty big deal back in the day. 

So there we sat, at least once a week or so, flaunting our newest collection of sparkly, smelly or fuzzy stickers and bargaining for a trade.

Back and forth we’d go; me, usually unmoving (I had some real attachment issues!). Her, more free-spirited and willing. We hit a lot of dead-ends in our time, but every now and again we would agree to a trade.

As with all childhood trades there was the all-important unspoken rule: No take-backs.

I knew that if I let go of my fuzzy puppy sticker for her scratch-n-sniff chocolate sticker that it was a done deal.

No take-backsies.

Hence why I made my decisions so carefully.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately...
You see, because--
God offers trades too.

As you probably already know, His trades are far better than adhesive pieces of paper— 
We give Him our sin; He gives us His holiness.
We give Him our sadness; He gives us His joy.
We offer Him our weaknesses; He bestows His strength.

But then there’s another trade— Our worries for His peace.
This is the trade I make… but then I break. 

The scene plays out the same way-- over and over again:
The load gets heavy.
I have a "come to Jesus” moment, anxieties in hand, laying them down at His feet one by one.
I cry; I pick up His peace and begin to walk in it, but then something happens...

A single thought.
Yes, just an ounce of doubt blooms into concern and before I know it, I find myself carrying that same load all over again.

Do you ever do that?

I was reading 1 Peter 5:7 in the Amplified version the other day, and a phrase caught my attention. See if you can pick up on it:

"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

Did you catch it?
“Once and for all."

Do you know what that means? No take-backs.
Oh, if only we were all to follow this simple childhood decree.

Jesus offers us the most incredible trades.
It’s like offering up a tattered and tactless old sticker and getting a giant, sparkly, pink heart one in return.
It’s not fair; it’s too good to be true…but it is true.

Today, Jesus says to us, “Come to me. Lay down your heavy burdens and anxieties. Take my rest and peace in return."

He is affectionate,
He is watchful,
He is trustworthy.

Does your soul long for lasting change?
Will you make the trade?

Don’t give into the lie of: "I’ll always have worries. I’ll always be anxious."

What is that one care you keep holding onto?
A sick spouse?
A dry bank account?
Your child’s behavior?

Let’s go together and sit at the feet of Jesus for a moment...
Lay our cares at his feet and pick up his peace--
that indescribable, inexplicable, enduring peace.

And when we do, let’s walk away remembering and repeating that nostalgic childhood pact— 
“No take-backs."

Word of the Day:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Prayer
“God, thank you that you ARE my peace. Today I bring to you my worries, my cares, my anxieties— the things that cloud my mind and keep me from experiencing a joy-filled, fulfilling life. Today I choose to throw them-- once and for all-- at your feet because you are loving and trustworthy. Thank you for your peace that goes with me today; help me to walk in it fully. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

​Author:  Katie Gibson

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