Lay your Burdens down! Remember to stop carrying them!

Ever thought about stripping off every unnecessary weight, burdens? Are you ready to give control back to God rather than clinging to it and allowing your worries and fears to carry unnecessary weight? Do you realize the freedom you could have by giving up control and giving everything to Jesus?

What God’s Word has to say about burdens:

The Bible says that weary and burdened people can come to Jesus and find rest for their souls. It also says that God will sustain those who cast their burdens on him and not let them be shaken. Furthermore, it says that Christians should bear one another’s burdens and restore each other in a spirit of gentleness. Here are some verses that support these statements:

• Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
• Psalm 55:22: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
• Galatians 6:2-3: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”

Additionally, God’s Word also tells us the following about burdens:

• Isaiah 46:4: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
• 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
• Psalm 37:5: “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this.”
• Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
• Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

These verses show us that God is our source of strength, comfort, provision, and peace. He invites us to cast our burdens on him and trust him with our lives. He promises to take care of us and never leave us nor forsake us. He also calls us to help each other by sharing our burdens and praying for one another.

Today’s Verse of the Day:

Therefore, let’s be the dads who receive God’s blessings and give our burdens over to Him day by day! God is our salvation, so let’s give Him control rather than doubting and trying to control everything in our own power and as such adding more and more to our burden backpacks. Let’s be the dads thank God and give Him all the praise, honor, and glory in Jesus’s name.

So what are you clinging to instead of releasing to God? What heavy burdens aren’t you exchanging with Jesus and receiving His freedom? How can we use today’s verse of the day to help us find true freedom and then walk in it? Could today be the day that you decide to cast your cares on God because He cares for you?

Applications of Psalms 68:19 to help us be the dads who release our burdens and control to God in order to live our lives as husbands, dads, and friends in freedom and unburdened:

1. Marriage and Husbandhood: Release the burden of control over your spouse and marriage. Trust that God is actively involved in your relationship. Instead of trying to control every aspect, rely on God’s wisdom and guidance.
2. Fatherhood: Let go of the unrealistic expectations you may have for yourself as a father. Trust that God equips you with the ability to be a nurturing and loving parent. Lean on God’s strength to guide your parenting decisions.
3. Friendships: Release the need to constantly impress others or maintain a façade of perfection. Embrace vulnerability and authenticity in your friendships. Trust that God accepts you as you are and that genuine relationships are built on honesty.
4. Anxiety and Worry: Exchange the burden of anxiety and worry for the peace that comes from trusting in God’s sovereignty. Cast your cares onto Him, believing that He cares for you and is in control of every situation.
5. Work and Career: Let go of the desire to control every outcome at work. Trust that God’s plan for your career is greater than you can imagine. Strive for excellence but leave room for God’s direction.
6. Financial Concerns: Release the burden of financial stress and anxiety. Trust that God provides for your needs. Practice wise stewardship while recognizing that God’s provision extends beyond material wealth.
7. Parental Worries: Instead of obsessing over your children’s future, surrender their lives to God. Trust that He loves them even more than you do and has a plan for their lives.
8. Health Challenges: Release the fear and anxiety surrounding health issues. Trust that God is the ultimate healer and sustainer. Seek medical care while acknowledging God’s sovereignty over your health.
9. Control Over Others: Let go of the desire to control or change other people. Trust that God works in their lives just as He works in yours. Practice patience and respect for their journey.
10. Regret and Guilt: Release the burden of past mistakes and guilt. Trust in God’s forgiveness and grace. Walk in the freedom that comes from accepting His love and embracing a new start.

Remember that these applications are based on the principles of trust, surrender, and reliance on God found in Psalms 68:19. They are meant to guide you toward living a life free from unnecessary burdens and finding true freedom in God’s care.