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Denisha: What do we do with the heavy and hard realities in our lives? [00:00:05] Today's episode is particularly close to my heart. As many of you know, this [00:00:10] past year has been a journey of profound loss for me after losing my husband of 23 years. Yet amidst the heaviness and hardship, I have found [00:00:20] comfort in the unwavering presence of Jesus.
And I don't say [00:00:25] that because that's what I'm supposed to say. I say that because he has been [00:00:30] near and faithful in ways that I never imagined possible. You know, God [00:00:35] has this way of meeting us with what we need at just the right time. And for [00:00:40] me, one of those moments was this episode from [00:00:45] Tremonti. And today I want to share with you her powerful message that touched my heart [00:00:50] deeply.
You may remember Katie from episode two of this podcast. [00:00:55] Katie is out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is the lead facilitator at Original [00:01:00] Design Restored and the host of the Original Design Restored [00:01:05] podcast, also known as ODR. She has a background in education and [00:01:10] ministry, and she is passionate about the intersection of faith and mental health.
She [00:01:15] believes that the combination of the gospel, personal narrative, and experiential learning can [00:01:20] lead to profound healing and transformation. Katie's authenticity [00:01:25] as a wife, mother, and friend brings her message to life in a tangible way. [00:01:30] Well, Katie and I crossed paths a few years ago, drawn together by [00:01:35] our shared passion for the restoration of stories through ministries like ODR and [00:01:40] Reclaimed Story.
Our bond was instant, fueled by a mutual desire to [00:01:45] explore life's complexities through the lens of faith. Now, Katie has given me [00:01:50] permission to share one of her ODR episodes that deeply touched my heart. [00:01:55] So she is going to lead us through a reflective journey of navigating life's [00:02:00] heaviness. How do we carry the weight when it feels overwhelming?
And [00:02:05] what do we do with the hard realities that confront us? We hope that in this [00:02:10]episode that you experience Jesus's nearness in your heavy and hard. [00:02:15] Be sure to stay to the end for some encouraging resources. And now [00:02:20] for this episode of Katie Tremonti's ODR podcast strength for the [00:02:25] heavy and hard.
Welcome to living the reclaim life podcast. I'm Denisha. [00:02:30] We're glad you're here. For conversations that revive hope, inspire healing, and [00:02:35] encourage you to live a vibrant life with Christ. So grab a cup of coffee as we [00:02:40] chat with today's guest.
[00:02:43] Katie: I'm Katie Tremonti and [00:02:45] i'm happy to have you here today. Today we are going to talk about strength for the heavy [00:02:50] and hard.
A few episodes ago I had talked about how to [00:02:55] throw off sin and hindrances. The things that could [00:03:00] lighten our load to run the race marked out for us. And that is significant. I've [00:03:05] definitely applied that in my own life. There have been things that I have needed to throw off, [00:03:10] take out of my pack, so to speak.
If I have a backpack for life, there are things to [00:03:15] take out so that my load would be lighter and I could run the race marked out [00:03:20] for me. The things that God has made for me to do, designed me to do on this earth [00:03:25] in my life. And then there are some things in our life [00:03:30] that we can't take out of our pack that are non negotiables that are responsibilities, callings, [00:03:35] struggles that are just real and are not going to go away.[00:03:40]
And so today I want to talk about what do we do with the heavy and [00:03:45] hard realities, the heavy and hard things in our pack, our backpack [00:03:50] of life. That we carry with us when we're running the race marked out [00:03:55] for us and this kind of came to my heart this week and as I prayed [00:04:00] through some things, I was just in touch with some of the heavy [00:04:05] and hard realities in my life that won't go away that are real that I [00:04:10] navigate in daily life.
And I've just been connecting [00:04:15] with some of my friends and some of the people in my life that are close to me. [00:04:20] Who also have heavy and hard realities, and I'm just aware [00:04:25]of some of the heavy and hard things that those close to me are [00:04:30] carrying in their lives. And so, on the ODR podcast, we talk a [00:04:35] lot about tools and strategies and supports and transformation and [00:04:40] growth and healing, and all of those things are so valuable, and those pieces have been [00:04:45] such a significant part of my journey.
And I, I celebrate and am amazed at the way [00:04:50] that God has changed me, and God has changed lives around me, as I and others [00:04:55] have pursued growth and healing and transformation, but sometimes there are things [00:05:00] in our life that are not sin, that are not hindrances, that just are heavy and [00:05:05] hard, that are part of our story, that are part of our reality, that we carry that are [00:05:10] not going to go away, that we can't take out of our pack.
And so today, rather than talk about [00:05:15] tools and strategies and supports, I want to talk about Jesus meeting [00:05:20] with us. Jesus meeting with me. Jesus meeting with you in [00:05:25] the hard moments, in the quiet thoughts, [00:05:30] in the deepest places that we navigate in our own souls. [00:05:35] Jesus meeting us in the hardest struggles we carry.[00:05:40]
Back in February. I went to a [00:05:45] retreat place, it's a kind of a house, but it's been turned into a retreat center and it's [00:05:50] down the street from me, just a couple blocks over. And while I was there, and I'm going to [00:05:55] actually put a link to this place because it's amazing, so if you're a Tulsa local, you'll want to check the show notes [00:06:00] for this retreat center.
They have prayer stations, you can book a half day retreat, a [00:06:05] full day retreat, an overnight retreat, a multi day retreat, there are many, many options. [00:06:10] For me, back in February, I went to the prayer stations for an afternoon [00:06:15] and was just coming to God with some of the heavy things in my, [00:06:20] my life and my story, the things that I carry that cannot come out of my [00:06:25] backpack of life.
And so I was sitting at the prayer station, just praying and journaling and, [00:06:30] and the image that I got was, that I have [00:06:35] this backpack and there are these rocks in my backpack, and they seem like pretty [00:06:40] significant rocks, kind of heavy. And so I expected, when I had that image and I was praying, I expected that [00:06:45] Jesus would take that pack from me and tell me that I, he can carry it and I don't have to carry it.
[00:06:50] Or, I, even as I was looking at that image, I sensed, you know, not Jesus, but [00:06:55] like outside voices, maybe telling me that I was carrying it wrong [00:07:00] and expecting kind of that perspective. I'm carrying the pack wrong or Jesus will take it. [00:07:05] And, and instead in that moment of prayer, what I sensed from [00:07:10] God, as I was praying and kind of praying through that image of I have this backpack and it has these [00:07:15] rocks and those rocks representing some Heavy and hard realities that are mine to carry in [00:07:20] life.
What I sensed from Jesus in that prayer time was that [00:07:25] He has made me strong enough to carry [00:07:30] those rocks in my pack. The heavy and hard things that I've been entrusted [00:07:35]with or navigated or walked through. The [00:07:40] hard things that are ongoing life realities [00:07:45] that are in my pack. That aren't simple, that aren't sin, that aren't hindrances.
Like, [00:07:50] his message to me was, you are strong enough to carry those rocks in your [00:07:55]pack. And so, this week, as I wrestled again with some of the heavy and hard realities [00:08:00] that are mine to carry, that, that image came up, reminding me that he's made me [00:08:05] strong enough to carry those things. And then he just [00:08:10] brought a ton of passages of scripture to mind.
And so, as I'm [00:08:15] sharing, and maybe you're touching into some of the heavy and hard realities that are yours, that are not [00:08:20] sin, that are not hindrances, maybe they're struggles, maybe they're parts of your story, maybe they're [00:08:25] responsibilities, relationships that are not [00:08:30] simple, that are not necessarily changeable, that are just heavy and hard realities, [00:08:35]may this episode connect with you, and may you experience the closeness of Jesus as I [00:08:40]share the verses that He brought to me.
So, some of the verses, [00:08:45] I'm going to just read through these, and a few I'll explain, but just kind of, these [00:08:50] are the words that he brought to mind as I was touching into the things that are heavy and hard, that are [00:08:55] mine to carry, that I can't throw off. These are the words that came to [00:09:00] mind. Psalm 34, 18, The Lord is close to the broken [00:09:05] hearted and saves those who are crushed in the spirit.
Part [00:09:10] of Isaiah 53. 3 reminds me of who Jesus is. It says he is a man [00:09:15] of suffering and familiar with pain. And actually, the ESV version, I think, resonates [00:09:20] even deeper. Jesus, as a man of sorrows and acquainted with [00:09:25] grief. He knows. Matthew 11, [00:09:30] 28 30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you [00:09:35] rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and [00:09:40] humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is [00:09:45] easy, and my burden is light. And I have to pause on this one because [00:09:50] that has kind of always felt like a Confusing statement, when I look at [00:09:55] heavy and hard realities, and I'm like, well, it's still heavy and hard.
How is your yoke [00:10:00] easy and your burden light? And as I was praying through it today, the picture that comes to mind is those [00:10:05] heavy and hard things may still be heavy and hard. [00:10:10] But Jesus's way is not heavy and hard. So as we carry those [00:10:15] things in life, He has rest for our souls in the midst of it, by [00:10:20] being near to him, he provides comfort and rest.
He is gentle and humble, [00:10:25] so he does not heap extra burdens on what is already heavy and hard. He meets us [00:10:30] in them and gives us rest, comfort, [00:10:35] gentleness, which is contrasted with this next verse. And actually I won't read [00:10:40] the whole thing, but Matthew 23, one through 12 is really this idea that. And actually I won't read the whole thing, but Matthew 23, one [00:10:45] through 12 is really this The religious leaders of the day do not practice [00:10:50] what they preach.
It says verse three and four, so you have to be careful to do everything they tell you, but [00:10:55] do not do what they do for, they do not practice what they preach. They tie up [00:11:00] heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they [00:11:05] themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
And then later in this passage, [00:11:10] 23, Matthew 23, 1 through 12, there's this contrast between [00:11:15] religious leaders. And who Jesus is and who Jesus came to be at that time in [00:11:20]history and who he is now that once Jesus was on the earth, he became [00:11:25] our teacher, our leader, our instructor, the Messiah. And he says no longer call [00:11:30] people rabbi or teacher.
Other passages say father. There is only [00:11:35] one now who is the Messiah. The teacher, the instructor, and that is Jesus. [00:11:40] And it's so fascinating to me as I was praying and feeling these heavy and hard [00:11:45] realities in my own life and thinking about those heavy and hard realities in the lives of those [00:11:50] close to me, and thinking of the contrast from Matthew 11 and Matthew like [00:11:55] Jesus in Matthew 11 and religious leaders in Matthew 23, when we have heavy and[00:12:00] hard realities, Jesus's way is not to add [00:12:05] burdens.
And those religious leaders at that time in Matthew 23, there were [00:12:10] additional weights and then the religious leaders wouldn't even lift a finger to move the [00:12:15] weights. And this contrast is significant because when you're carrying heavy and hard [00:12:20] realities in life, To add additional burdens and weights and then not [00:12:25] have anyone lift a finger to help is extra painful, right?
And whether that's religious [00:12:30] leaders, culture, society, whatever, that is not helpful. [00:12:35] And it causes more strain and stress. And the contrast between [00:12:40] that reality of heavy burdens being added on with who Jesus is. [00:12:45] In Matthew 11 where he says, My yoke is easy and my burden is light. You will find rest for your [00:12:50] souls.
I will give you rest. That is His way for those of us who are [00:12:55] weary and burdened. So when you're feeling heavy and hard [00:13:00] and if you've had spiritual, religious, religious Church or [00:13:05] societal messages of weighty loads that you have to [00:13:10] add on to what's already heavy and what's already hard. I would say that [00:13:15] rather than feeling the weight of those, turn to Jesus, actual [00:13:20] Jesus, meet with Him and He will meet with you.[00:13:25]
And His way is rest and gentleness. [00:13:30] His load is easy and light. And then finally, I want to really [00:13:35] read Philippians 4, 11 through 13. [00:13:40] It says, I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the [00:13:45] circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the [00:13:50] secret of being content in any and every situation. Whether well fed or [00:13:55] hungry, whether living in plenty or in want, I can do all this through him who gives me [00:14:00] strength and other versions saved through Christ who strengthens [00:14:05] me. And so as I close these passages of scripture, that's the one I wanna land on at the [00:14:10] end and really anchor onto.
Once you have thrown off the sin, thrown off the [00:14:15] hindrances, you have fixed your eyes on Jesus, you see the race marked out for you, and then you look at your pack and there's some heavy [00:14:20] and hard realities that you will navigate in life. These [00:14:25] verses, and then as we end with Philippians 4, Jesus strengthens you.[00:14:30]
He will give you the strength to carry what is yours to [00:14:35] carry. And I don't know what you're carrying. I don't know what's in your [00:14:40] story. I don't know what your daily reality is like. But I do know that there are [00:14:45] heavy and hard realities in life, and so I assume there may be something heavy and hard in [00:14:50] your life today, just like there are in mine.
And rather than share [00:14:55] tools and resources and point you in multiple directions of things you could read or, [00:15:00] or exercises you could do, Today, I want to simply offer [00:15:05] the comfort and compassion of Jesus. [00:15:10] I want to point to Jesus and encourage you to meet [00:15:15] with Him because He will meet with you. So whether today finds [00:15:20] you grappling with loneliness, depression, [00:15:25] anxiety, disconnection in your marriage.
I [00:15:30] Miscarriage, loss of an opportunity, loss of a [00:15:35] friendship, loss of a sense of security, loss of a loved one, [00:15:40] grappling with mental health struggles, marriage struggles, [00:15:45] parenting struggles, health struggles, [00:15:50] overwhelmed by grief, feeling the weight of responsibilities, [00:15:55] battling a chronic illness, In the midst of a major life transition, [00:16:00] learning of a new diagnosis, infertility, [00:16:05] loss of a dream, whatever you're holding that's heavy and [00:16:10] hard, may Jesus meet you in it today, [00:16:15] in this moment, and may you feel his nearness in an almost [00:16:20] tangible way.
What I want to leave you with today. is a [00:16:25] simple playlist of songs that I put together for you [00:16:30] to offer comfort, compassion, and [00:16:35] encouragement as you carry the heavy and hard that is yours to carry, [00:16:40] that you may be strengthened for the race marked out with you with the heavy and [00:16:45] hard that is in your pack of life.
You can find this playlist [00:16:50] in the show notes. There'll be a little highlighted [00:16:55] link that will say, click here, and you can find that playlist through the show notes. [00:17:00] Wow.
[00:17:00] Denisha: Friends. I would love for you to stay connected with Katie to find [00:17:05] her playlist that she mentioned on Spotify. We have the link to all of these in the show notes, [00:17:10]but you can also look up a playlist called strength by Katie Tremonti on Spotify.[00:17:15]
And you can stay connected with Katie and her incredible ODR podcast [00:17:20] anywhere you listen to your podcasts and it's Original Design Restored podcast. [00:17:25] You can also find her at originaldesignrestored. org or on [00:17:30] Instagram at originaldesignrestored. We hope that you enjoyed this episode [00:17:35] and that you find strength in your heavy and hard in life.[00:17:40]
Thanks for listening. I pray you found hope in [00:17:45] today's conversation and maybe even feel a little less alone in your story. [00:17:50] Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram at Reclaimed Story. [00:17:55] Want to learn more about living a reclaimed life and how you can be a part of our growing community of [00:18:00] reclaimers?
Check out our website at reclaimedstory. com. All of [00:18:05] those links and more will be in the show notes. And if you enjoyed this inspirational [00:18:10] podcast, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review. Not only will you be the [00:18:15] first one to know when new content comes out, but it is also a huge help in helping us [00:18:20] reach more people to live the