“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28, NIV

So many times, I find myself attempting to control the uncontrollable: rain for my farming and ranching brothers in Christ, a good choice for an athlete on a bus ride home, completed work from a student already given countless chances, or healing for a grieving co-worker.

I find myself trying to hang onto those burdens and carry them on my shoulders.

Why?

Because I want to be man enough to shoulder my own trials. I want to lift burdens from others and carry those, too. But, friends, we all know that this mindset is not healthy.   It creates a constant battle in our minds between our old sinful selves and the new creations we became when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior.

But in this liberating verse from Matthew, the Lord Himself invites us to come to Him. All of us.

Now, when trials arise, I try to spend more time in His Word, which is the only place to find absolute Truth. I spend time with other believers and we pray with and for each other. During our time together in prayer, I can feel those burdens being lifted as the family of believers, together, lifts them into the waiting arms of Christ. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 12:26, “If one part [member of the Body of Christ] suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is time to let go of that burden you have been holding onto. Let go and let God. Right here, right now—give it all to Him.

Almighty Father, Everlasting Lord, Creator of all, help us to let go. Help us to adhere to Your Words and bring our burdens to You. Whatever is weighing heavily on the hearts and minds of those reading this, I lift it all to Your great throne of mercy and grace. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for our sins and, thus, create an open line of communication with You. Help us to not take that for granted and remind us that we face no battle alone. Use us this day to further Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Copyright Tom Milbrandt.

Tom is a member and a high school math teacher from North Dakota.