Did Your Daddy Ask You to Carry That?

April 7, 2025 Off By Donna Wuerch Noble

Years ago, I watched my grandson wobble across the yard, stooping and stumbling under the weight of a giant rock. His flushed face and sagging shoulders told me he was at his limit. I rushed over, and as I spoke his name, he dropped to the grass.

When I asked why he was carrying that rock, he whispered, “I wanted to show Daddy how strong I was.” I couldn’t help but smile and give him a big hug. That rock was never his to carry.

Sometimes, I catch myself doing the same thing. I’m lugging around burdens that make my knees buckle and my heart weary. Worries that aren’t mine to worry about. Hurts I can’t possibly heal. Expectations no one asked me to meet. It’s as if I’m trying to prove something — to show God I’m strong enough.

But that’s not what God asks of us. He doesn’t measure our worth by how much we can carry. He invites us to lay down the burdens that aren’t ours and take up His instead — light, manageable, and fitted just for us.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you… and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

Aw! Sweet relief! The yoke Jesus offers isn’t a detour around life’s challenges. It’s a promise to walk alongside us, to make our load just right for our strength. He never intended for us to carry the weight of the world. That’s His job. Ours is to trust and rest in His strength.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed today, take a deep breath and ask yourself: “Did your Daddy ask you to carry that?” If not, it’s time to lay it down and let Him give you rest.

Dear Jesus, help me set down what isn’t mine to carry. Teach me to trust in Your strength instead of straining in mine. Amen.