For we walk by faith, not by sight
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
Did you know that to schlep means to haul? It implies carrying something heavy or awkward. When used as a noun, schlep is a harrowing or tedious journey. Perhaps when we struggle in our faith walk, we have stopped walking and started schlepping.
Schlepping is not God’s best for His children. When we forget to walk and start to schlep, we hold onto the negativity of this world. We try to figure things out for ourselves rather than taking our concerns to Father God. We try to take the perceived shortcut instead of staying on the path provided. We schlep when we stop depending on our source and abiding with Him. Here are a few ways to stop schlepping and start walking.
Go back to the Word
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
- Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV
The first step in moving from schlepping to walking is to go back to Word and start with God. This verse in Proverbs clearly states that we must trust Father God over anything we think we understand. Even when the journey seems long, we know we are on the right course when we walk on the path He has charted for us.
Pray
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
Prayer helps us walk rather than schlep. Prayer helps strengthen our personal relationship with our creator. We can walk boldly to the throne of God and lay down the burdens causing us to schlep. Once we lay them down, we have to leave them there. We can commune with Father God as we walk and ask Him anything according to His Word.
Offer Praise and Thanksgiving
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
- Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV
Praise and thanksgiving are secrets to walking. When we praise, we take our focus off ourselves and our situations; and put our focus where it belongs, on Father God. Thanksgiving is a reminder to ourselves of all the blessings we currently have. Benefits we have even when we wish our circumstances were different. Thanksgiving is a reminder of all that God has provided for us in the past. Since we know that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we know that He will provide for us today. This knowledge lightens our load and allows us to walk.
Trust
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
- John 16:33 NKJV
We trust that God has charted our course, that He hears our prayers and takes our burdens. We trust that He provides. We may have troubles in this world, but we also have the peace of God. This peace allows us to walk and not schlep.
Thanks be to God that as Christians, we have the gifts needed to walk and not schlep. Our path is laid out for us. We have God’s peace and His company to prevent a harrowing or tedious journey. Glory be to God we can walk and not schlep!