Every Thursday I feature a “throwback” post from my blog archive. The goal is to look back and discover new lessons or opportunities to grow. This week, we’ll look at “Breathe” You can view the original post here. For today, here’s a quick recap and a few more thoughts about giving our burdens to God.

My family is in the midst of a big move. We’re headed from Nebraska to North Carolina in just two weeks. I am sure I will be talking about this quite a bit over the next couple of weeks as it consumes just about every minute of spare time our family seems to have.

Now, I’m not trying to brag or anything, but the system we have for packing and sorting our stuff is pretty awesome. Every box is color-coded by destination (storage or apartment) and then labeled by room and contents. The fact is, we are the easiest people you’d ever help move and we are very proud of this fact. You’d think, with a system like this, moving would be a breeze, there would be little to no stress, and we would float through this season without a care in the world.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. Moving is stressful no matter what. The days seem to get shorter and shorter, the stuff in your home seems to rapidly reproduce, and the drive to simplify, declutter, and lighten the load results in more and more to-do items finding their way onto an ever-growing list.

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As I reread today’s throwback post “Breathe,” I was reminded of a season when my stress levels peaked. The pressure I was feeling exceeded my ability to process and I broke. It took me a lot of work to figure out where that pressure was coming from, how to process it properly, and how to let go of the things I needed to let go of. What’s funny is that the stresses I was facing then pale in comparison to the ones I am facing today. The list of responsibilities my wife and I were juggling then was much smaller than the ones we hold now. Yet today, while I feel the stress of the mounting to-do list, the massive piles of boxes, and the ceaseless clutter from the last year few years, I feel strangely at peace.

Since that initial panic attack, I have put in the necessary work to learn to manage the stress of the big moments and the day-to-day. I have focused on my mental, emotional, and spiritual health in ways that have completely changed my response to these stresses. And most importantly, I have learned that I can trust God with the big things and the small stuff. So today if you are feeling the pressure of a big moment or the mounting of numerous small tasks and responsibilities, know that God is with you. Know that He walks beside you and know that you can trust Him.

Scripture points to this truth over and over again. Here are a few of those truths that helped me through the worst of times and that you can cling to when you face similar struggles.

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When you’re tired or weary:

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31, NIV.

When you are anxious or stressed to the max:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7, NIV

When you feel like you can’t bear the weight of it all:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30, NIV

When the chaos is swirling:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:1-4, NIV

When you just need to know you’re loved:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV.

Don’t give up. Trust in Him. And don’t forget to breathe.