Day 1 - Drop the Weight
A Weightless devotional
“Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)
Believe it or not, God has a plan for your anxiety. And it isn’t for you to keep it!
It’s for you to drop it—drop it like you’re done pretending it’s helping.
But God doesn’t just want you to hand over your burdens—he literally wants you to throw them.
“Throw your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22)
We throw a ball, we throw our keys onto the counter, and that’s easy. But the Hebrew word used here for throw (the word “shalak”) doesn’t suggest a light toss. It implies a forceful, intentional act of flinging something off yourself—a violent rejection of the weight that’s too heavy to bear. This is no halfhearted letting go while holding on just in case. This is a hurling of weight from your shoulders onto His.
To throw your anxious thoughts onto Him is to release them with force, like you’re getting rid of something that was never yours to carry. It’s a bold, trusting act of transfer: This is Yours now. I’m not managing it anymore. I’m not dragging it with me another step. I trust You.
So why use such a strong word like throw? Because burdens don’t fall off gently. They have to be cast off with intention and faith.
Maybe it’s because our burdens are so deeply ingrained and clinging to us so tightly—and us to them—that we can’t just hand them over without some serious effort; we have got to hurl them with determination, recognizing that they don't belong with us but with the One who cares for us. That means throwing your burdens takes effort, intentionality, and faith.
In life, it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to manage everything yourself. You think you have to fix every problem, handle every struggle, and control every aspect of your life—and even the lives of others sometimes. This mindset puts an enormous burden on your shoulders, leading to stress, exhaustion, and anxiety. But God offers a different way of living—a way of trust, surrender, and peace—a way of living light in this heavy world.
God's power, presence, and desire to care for you are limitless. He wants you to let go of trying to hold up your own future and instead to trust that He holds your tomorrow, rather than imagining that your tomorrow is at the mercy of someone who doesn’t love you or have your best interests in mind.
Besides, it’s important to recognize that, in the words of John Piper, “Your fears for the future are immensely unreliable.” That’s because your anxieties about what might happen, most of the time, are exaggerated, unfounded, and untrustworthy. And they are robbing you of peace and distracting you from enjoying the presence of God today.
“Today’s grace won’t solve tomorrow’s troubles,” Piper continues. “The only way today’s grace addresses tomorrow is by helping us cast our anxieties on God. But this is a huge help because it frees us to focus on the one place we will experience God’s grace today: today.” This perspective is life-changing for the worrier. When you throw your burdens on God, you free yourself to live fully in the present, experiencing all the grace He has for you today.
“Today’s grace won’t solve tomorrow’s troubles.” - John Piper
Imagine carrying a bag filled with the stones of all your worries and anxieties, each step becoming more burdensome as the weight bears down on you. Now imagine Jesus standing beside you, asking you to give Him the weight. He doesn’t just ask for a couple of stones so that you can lighten your load; He asks you to throw the whole thing, to throw it, and dump it off of yourself onto Him completely. He is more than capable of carrying it. Besides, He wants to carry it because He loves you.
If God commands you not to be anxious, then it has to be within your ability to reject anxiety. It isn't an unreasonable ask. If it were, God would be a tyrant, demanding the impossible. But He is a loving Father who knows your weaknesses and provides the strength you need. He asks you not to be anxious because He knows the freedom and peace that come when you trust Him fully.
In order to let go of your burden, you have to first recognize that it isn't yours to hold onto. Your future belongs to God. He is the author of your life and the sustainer of your soul. He has plans for you, and those plans will be fulfilled. His hands are capable, and His heart is kind. When you throw your burden on Him, you recognize these facts and acknowledge that your limitations stand in stark contrast to His sovereignty.
Letting go of your anxiety is a daily practice of faith. Each day, you have to choose to trust God with your future and your struggles. Remind yourself that His grace is sufficient for today and that He will provide for tomorrow. Find peace in the truth that He cares for you deeply and intimately.
As you throw your burden on God, remember that He is with you every step of the way. He is not only able to handle your problems but also wants to carry them for you because He loves you.
Trust in His power. Rest in His presence. And embrace the weightlessness that comes when you stop carrying what was never yours.
Drop the weight. Let Him lift what’s been crushing you.
When you surrender your burdens, you don’t just feel lighter—you are lighter. Because now the One who sustains the universe is carrying what used to carry you.
Thoughts to ponder
Why do you think the imagery of “throwing” your burden is so specific?
What things keep you from emptying your arms and your pockets of all of your burdens?
Do you sometimes think that God commands the impossible?
What part does the Holy Spirit play in helping you to obey these impossible commands?
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