As a woman walked along the seashore, she added shell after shell to her netted bag. Shells of fear, worry, shame, stress, to-do lists, etc. Her shoulders stooped as her bag became heavier and heavier, and finally she was dragging it through the sand.

Then an amazing thing happened. She took the bag and flung it, the shells emptying and scattering. As she faced the ocean, she raised her hands to the heavens and proclaimed, “I am free!”

“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.”
~ 1 Peter 5:7 AMP

Are you bowed down with all these things? Do you, like me, too often let these things weigh you down? What a blessing if we can let go and give our burden over to Jesus, to fling away those weights that bow us down, and proclaim freedom in Jesus!

This story was a short and powerful clip before a film I saw that showed Jesus through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, the one of whom Jesus cast out seven devils. From then on she desired to follow Him and did until His death.

As Mary Magdalene followed Jesus, she witnessed many miracles. She saw the many women Jesus healed and saved. She experienced how He showed love and compassion to all, including women, even though women were disregarded at that time.

Then something happened that choked the hope and life out of her soul. Jesus was crucified and buried. She was bereft of any comfort without her Jesus.

As the woman in the clip, Mary Magdalene was bowed down under a heavy load. She mourned and wept at Jesus’ grave. She thought He was the Messiah. But now all her hope was gone. All Jesus’ promises seemed to mock her. Will she ever feel joy again?

Wonder of wonders, Jesus revealed Himself to her. Yes! He is alive! Yes! He is the Messiah! Yes! He is the Savior who would free her!

Do you know of times like these when you can’t feel that Jesus is truly alive? I’m afraid I sometimes live too much in a mournful state as if Jesus is still dead. Do you struggle with this, too?

May Jesus break us free from the chains that still sometimes bind us. May we learn to fling all our burdens to the cross. May we remember Jesus IS yet alive today and forever!

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.

She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.

“Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.”

She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him.

“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”

She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.”

“Mary!” Jesus said.

She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

~ John 20:11-16 NLT

You can view this movie on youtube,
but it doesn’t have the clip at the beginning.

“I Am Free” 
by Newsboys

May we let go of our burdens
to Jesus who is alive forever!

Linking up with: 

Holley – Coffee For Your Heart 

Jennifer – Tell His Story 

Kelly – Cheerleaders of Faith

Bonnie – Faith Barista’s Beloved Brews