lighten up

One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn in my life as a Christian and as a human being is the necessity of "lightening up." I've tended to be too heavy and serious in a wrong kind of way, as if so much depends on me. It reminds me of the lesson Martin Luther had to learn, not at all to put me in the same breath as him, but he had to learn to go to sleep and rest well at night since it was not he, but God who is in charge of the world.

I've learned from some good Christians the art of lightening up and simply having a good old high time, simply enjoying life. And this spirit needs to carry over into all of life, so that I realize that as serious as I want to be in my walk in Christ, it of necessity requires an attitude of faith that while necessarily exercised with concern at times, ends up entrusting the outcome of all things into the good hands of God to bring out his good for us in Jesus.

This is a good attitude to have when we feel like it, and when we don't feel like it. Even when we pray about serious matters indeed, we should do so as the very children of God, knowing we can rest assured in his goodness to us and concern of love in regard to all things in this world.

Do you have trouble lightening up? Or what has helped you to do so?