Episode 25: The Weight We Choose to Carry
The Weight we Choose to Carry
Some weights are placed on us… others, we pick up ourselves.
In this season of “Release,” I’ve been reflecting on how often we carry things long after God has asked us to set them down. Sometimes it’s guilt. Sometimes it’s regret. And sometimes, it’s the person we used to be — the version of ourselves we’ve already outgrown but keep dragging behind us.
I once knew a man from a small group I attended at church — we’ll call him Daniel. He was one of the first to arrive every week, always helping set up chairs and tear down afterward. Faithful. Kind. But beneath his quiet service was a story of deep shame. Years earlier, he’d made mistakes that still haunted him. Even though he had asked God for forgiveness, he couldn’t forgive himself. He said, “I know God’s forgiven me… I just don’t feel free.”
That’s where many of us live — forgiven, but not free.
🌿 The Weight of Self-Forgiveness
When we refuse to release the past, we become prisoners of our own memories. The truth is, forgiveness is not just an act of grace we receive — it’s one we must also extend to ourselves. Scripture reminds us, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36, KJV).
Freedom isn’t a feeling… it’s a decision to trust that what Jesus did is enough.
So how do we live in that freedom?
Name the weight. You can’t release what you won’t admit you’re holding.
Surrender it daily. Release isn’t a one-time act; it’s a rhythm.
Replace it with truth. Every time guilt resurfaces, speak God’s Word over it.
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” — meaning you don’t have to keep paying the debt that’s already been paid.
🕊 The Practice of Release
Releasing old burdens doesn’t mean we pretend they never existed. It means we trust that God can redeem them. What once weighed us down can become part of the testimony that lifts someone else up.
When I think about Daniel now, I remember how, over time, his countenance changed. He began serving with peace instead of pressure. His prayers sounded different — not desperate, but grateful. What changed?
He finally let go.
That’s the invitation of this week: to lay down what no longer belongs in your hands.
Let go of the version of you that keeps apologizing.
Let go of the guilt that whispers you’re not enough.
Let go of the weight that Jesus already carried to the cross.
💭 Reflection and Takeaway
Ask yourself today: What am I still carrying that Christ already released?
Maybe it’s time to forgive yourself as freely as God has forgiven you.
Remember — freedom doesn’t begin when life feels light… it begins when you choose to let go.
As Psalm 55:22 reminds us: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.”
You were never meant to carry what He has already claimed.
🌱 Keep Growing
If this message resonates with you, dive deeper in Week 2 of the devotional – “Release.” Each day includes guided prayer, reflection, and a moment to write what you’re ready to lay down.
You can follow along with the podcast episode, “The Weight We Choose to Carry,” wherever you listen to podcasts, or explore the full devotional journey at WhitmanCollective.com/store.
