My poor computer had gotten overloaded. I had been adding programs to it, storing tons of information, and working on several big projects. Finally it sent me a clear message, informing me that it was incapable of taking any more. If I didn’t relieve it immediately, it was going to “crash.”

So I got some extra disks and did some quick off-loading. I put each project on a disk of its own and trashed a lot of stuff I no longer needed. My grateful computer breathed a sigh of relief and began functioning normally again.

Sometimes my life gets to be like my computer. I pack in so much responsibility and activity and commitment, and I carry so much unresolved emotion that I feel I can’t take it anymore. The burdens and cares seem enormous. If I’m honest, I’ll admit that I’m about to “crash.”

When we get signals of overload—sleeplessness, irritability, worry—it’s time to do some off-loading. It’s time to drop some activities and responsibilities. We may need to say no to some requests. Above all, as the psalmist suggested, we must off-load our cares on the Lord. He has promised to help us carry our burdens.  — David C. Egner