Bible Passage: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22 ESV)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:30
Today, we’re going to talk about a different concept in psychotherapy that aligns well with the journey we’ve been on so far in our pursuit of a sound mind: Internal Family Systems (IFS).
The premise of IFS is that people have different metaphorical “parts” of themselves that develop in response to their experiences. Often, we have parts within us that have been burdened by painful beliefs, memories, or emotions (e.g., shame, fear) stemming from experiences that have wounded us.
Ever experience an emotion, thought, or behavior that keeps coming up, but doesn’t fully make sense? In IFS, we’d understand that as a “part” within you.
Often, our parts engage in compulsive behaviors in an attempt to protect us from re-experiencing painful past experiences that have wounded us. These habitual behaviors can range from things like overworking to the need to be in control to drugs and alcohol that help to numb difficult feelings.
The key is to recognize that these behaviors, although often unhealthy, serve the protective purpose of helping us to avoid pain.
As we grow in our ability to notice and set aside those protective behaviors, fight avoidance, and face the pain, we’ll often discover that what sustains the pain we continue to experience is a burden.
In IFS, we understand a burden as a heavy belief or assumption that parts of us have taken on because of past wounds. Often, these are lies about ourselves, others, and/or the world that are inconsistent with biblical truth.
Healing and transformation, therefore, would entail releasing and letting go of the burdens we’ve been carrying for years and adopting a healthier, more accurate way of seeing the world.
In Psalm 55:22, the Lord invites us to cast our “burdens” on Him and allow Him to sustain us. He’s inviting us to cast down at His feet anything heavy that we’ve been carrying, including painful beliefs and assumptions.
As we release the burden of the lies we’ve taken on based on our painful experiences, we’re invited to take on His truth—the easy yoke and light burden that He promises in Matthew 11:30.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray that You would search my heart to reveal the lies I’ve taken on as burdens, and where I first began to take them on. Then, I pray that You’d help me to cast those burdens on You, so I may take on Your easy yoke and light burden. Amen.
Reflection: Ask the Lord to help you see the burdens that you’ve taken on based on the painful experiences you’ve gone through. What is the truth that the Lord is inviting you to take on instead after you release those burdens to Him?
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