It Was Never Yours to Carry

We live in a world that celebrates hustle and wears burnout like a badge of honor. The pressure to perform, to succeed, to have it all together is constant and heavy. But the truth is, some of that pressure was never ours to carry in the first place. It creeps in quietly—through expectations, responsibilities, and the unspoken fear of disappointing others. We start to believe that if we don’t hold it all together, everything will fall apart. We tell ourselves things like, “I can’t let them down,” or “If I don’t do it, no one will.” And without realizing it, we’re carrying anxiety, stress, and fear like it’s part of who we are.

But Jesus never asked us to carry that kind of weight. In Matthew 11:28, He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” That invitation is for every person who’s been silently suffocating under pressure they were never meant to hold. Somewhere along the way, many of us took on roles and responsibilities with good intentions—but with them came a false sense of control. We started acting like the outcome was up to us. But it’s not. There’s only one Savior, and it’s not us.

God calls us to obedience, not outcome. He calls us to trust, not to strive. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.” He’s not asking you to carry everything; He’s asking you to give it to Him. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up—it means giving back what was never ours to keep in the first place.

So maybe today’s the day you check your load. Ask yourself: Am I carrying something God never asked me to carry? Am I holding on out of fear, pride, or guilt? What would it look like to truly cast this care on Him? Freedom doesn’t come when everything is fixed. It comes when we surrender the weight and trust the One who never asked us to carry it alone. You were never meant to carry the weight of the world. You were meant to walk with the One who already has.

Take a breath. Lay it down. God’s got what’s been keeping you up at night—and He’s not letting go.