I’ve Done My Part, and Now I Must Let God Do His Part
Lysa TerKeurst
Lee en español
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NIV).
I’ve been carrying a burden that’s been weighing me down for a long time. And today, right now, this minute, I’m choosing to lay it down.
I’m releasing it to God. And I’m making a commitment not to pick it back up.
I suspect you might have a similar situation in which you keep trying to control something or someone completely out of your control.
- It’s that situation you can’t fix, but you keep fretting about it anyway.
- It’s that desire to change a person who isn’t willing to change, but you keep working harder on them than they do on themselves.
- It’s that expectation you know is unrealistic, but you keep letting your disappointment hijack your emotions.
- It’s that longing you say you’ve given to God, but you keep working behind the scenes, desperate to arrange things yourself.
We can be responsible for doing what we should do in all of these scenarios. But we shouldn't try to do what only God can do. As I was praying through how to really live this, the Lord brought to mind Jesus' words in 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” (NIV).
Sometimes I think the reason I hold tightly to burdens I need to release is because I don’t see tangible evidence of God doing anything. But God is working. Even in the silence and the unknown. That means I can stop pushing. I can stop trying to control. I can stop trying to make people something they aren’t. I can embrace the truth that there is a Savior of the world, but it isn’t me. This doesn’t mean I give up. It means I’m leaning into the light and easy way of Jesus.
The Message paraphrase puts Matthew 11:28-30 this way:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (MSG).
Wow. What if we released the burdens we’ve been carrying and exchanged them for Jesus’ unforced rhythms of grace?
Today is a great day to say, “Enough. I’ve done my part, and now I must let God do His part.”
Together, let’s be obedient to God by declaring we will trust Him with what we are laying down. I believe the more we trust Him to do what only He can do, the less we will resist Him. The less we resist Him, the less we will suffer with anxiety about the unknown.
God, I’m asking for Your help as I release this heavy burden. I’m trusting You with the outcomes, questions, and unknowns. Help me remember that even if I tried to keep carrying this, I wouldn’t be able to control the outcome. You’re the perfect, sufficient Savior who already knows the future, who isn’t caught off guard by any of it, and who knows how to lead me through it. Help me trust You. In Jesus' name, amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
It’s possible to stop rushing through each day with anxiety over what’s around the next corner or what someone else will choose. In her new book, Making Peace with What I Can’t Control, Lysa TerKeurst offers biblical wisdom and compassionate encouragement when you’re weary from overthinking, striving, and fearing the unknown. In these pages, you’ll find comfort in the fact that you don’t have to carry the exhausting pressure of trying to hold everything together. Preorder your copy today, and you’ll receive special bonus resources that won’t be available once the book releases!
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 127:2, “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones” (NLT).
What is one thing you’ve been trying to control that is actually out of your control? How can you better position yourself to receive rest from God, giving Him this burden or concern? We’d love to hear from you today in the comments.
© 2026 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
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