“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.” Matthew 11:28-30

We’ve all had those days—or seasons—when the weight of life just feels like too much to carry. 

Our past mistakes, regrets, and hurts can weigh heavily on our hearts, making it hard to move forward. 

The good news is that Jesus invites us to bring every single one of those burdens to Him. Jesus doesn’t ask us to figure it all out on our own. 

Instead, He offers us His rest, His peace, and a way to live that frees us from the weight of yesterday.

But what does it actually look like to bring our burdens to Jesus? 

And how can we live in a way that releases the heavy weight of yesterday and embraces the lightness He offers?

(You can download a printable version of this devotional with additional study questions at the very end!)

Acknowledge Your Burdens Honestly

The first step to leaving your burdens at Jesus’ feet is to honestly acknowledge what’s weighing you down. 

Is it a regret over something you wish you’d done differently? Maybe it’s the pain of a past hurt that still stings. Take some time to bring these things before God in prayer. 

Jesus invites us to come to Him with our weariness and struggles—He never asks us to pretend everything’s okay. In fact, He wants our authenticity. 

As you name each burden before Him, trust that He cares deeply and wants to lift it off your shoulders.

Embrace the Rest Jesus Offers

Jesus’ promise of rest isn’t just about physical rest; it’s about finding true peace for our souls. 

When we “take His yoke” upon us, we’re exchanging the heavy burdens we’ve been carrying for the lightness of His grace. 

A yoke is a tool that lets two animals carry a load together. 

When Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you,” He’s inviting us to walk alongside Him, letting Him shoulder the weight of our struggles. 

The load becomes lighter because He’s carrying it with us. Remind yourself that you don’t have to face today’s challenges—or yesterday’s hurts—alone. Jesus is with you, carrying the burden so you don’t have to.

Trust in God’s Compassion and Humility

Jesus describes Himself as “gentle and humble in heart.” He knows our human struggles, our weaknesses, and our pain. 

We’re not coming to a Savior who judges or criticizes us for our mistakes and struggles. 

Instead, we’re coming to a Savior who deeply understands, who feels our pain, and who treats us with compassion and kindness. 

When we come to Jesus, we’re met with grace, not condemnation. Trusting in His gentle nature can help us let go of the guilt or shame we might feel over our past.

Learn from Jesus’ Example

Jesus says to “learn from me.” He invites us to walk in His ways, to follow His example of trust, humility, and surrender. 

One of the best ways to let go of burdens is to model our lives after Him, letting go of control and trusting the Father. 

Jesus relied fully on His Father, even in moments of pain and uncertainty. In our lives, learning from Jesus means surrendering our need to fix everything ourselves and letting God take control.

Release Your Burdens Regularly

Letting go of yesterday’s burdens isn’t a one-time action. It’s a daily choice to lay down the things that weigh us down. 

We may find ourselves picking up old worries or regrets from time to time, but each morning is a new opportunity to leave those burdens at Jesus’ feet. 

Start your day by asking Jesus to carry whatever you don’t need to carry. 

His mercies are new every morning, and He’s always ready to help us start fresh, light, and free.

If studying the Bible better is on your list of things to do this year, be sure to visit our Bible Study Resources page where you’ll find everything you need to make Bible study a regular part of your daily routine.

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