Resting in Him: Take it to him and leave it there
Resting in Him: Leave It at His Feet and Don’t Pick It Back Up
Lesson Focus
Rest is not just about sleep or relaxation—it is about trusting God enough to release control. In a world that glorifies busyness and self-reliance, God calls His children to a different way of living: one of surrender, peace, and dependence on Him.
When we lay down our burdens—whether fears about the future, struggles in relationships, financial concerns, or hidden anxieties—God promises to carry them. Yet, too often, we lay them at His feet only to pick them back up again when doubt creeps in. This cycle leaves us restless, weary, and spiritually drained.
The lesson for us is clear: true rest comes not when we temporarily set things down, but when we fully trust God to hold them. Rest is the evidence of faith in action. It is the posture of a heart that says, “Lord, I trust You more than I trust myself.”
Learning to rest in Him requires:
Surrendering daily through prayer and thanksgiving.
Rejecting the urge to pick back up what He has already claimed.
Believing His Word when He says His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
When we remain in this place of surrender, we discover that rest is not just possible—it is God’s promise.
Scripture Readings & Reflections
Matthew 11:28–30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
🔹 Reflection: Rest in Christ is not passive; it is an exchange. We trade the heavy burdens of worry, fear, and striving for His gentle yoke of peace. The challenge is to leave what we’ve laid down in His hands, without returning to pick it back up.
1 Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
🔹 Reflection: Casting means to release fully, not partially. When we surrender our anxieties, we must trust His care is greater than our capacity to control. Picking burdens back up is a sign of misplaced trust in ourselves instead of Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
🔹 Reflection: Gratitude is a tool of rest. Even in uncertainty, choosing joy and thanksgiving lifts us out of fear. A thankful heart rests in the assurance that God is at work, even when we cannot see it.
Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
🔹 Reflection: God doesn’t waste anything. When we let go, we allow Him to weave every detail into His greater plan. Trusting this promise frees us from constantly “checking back in” on what we’ve already surrendered.
Matthew 4:4
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
🔹 Reflection: Physical rest and nourishment are important, but spiritual rest and nourishment through God’s Word are essential. His Word sustains our hearts and minds when life feels overwhelming.
Key Takeaway Points
Rest is surrender, not inactivity. We find true rest when we trust God with what we’ve released.
Letting go is a daily practice. Every day we must choose to lay burdens down and resist picking them back up.
Gratitude shifts perspective. Thanksgiving keeps our focus on God’s faithfulness rather than our fears.
God sustains what we release. What we entrust to Him, He holds securely in His perfect care.
Reflection Challenge
This week, think of one burden you’ve been tempted to pick back up after surrendering it to God.
Write it down on a piece of paper.
Pray over it, asking God to take full control.
Place it in your Bible or journal as a reminder that it is no longer yours to carry.
Each time you feel the urge to worry or revisit it, say aloud:
“Lord, I have laid this at Your feet. I trust You to handle it.”
Let this be the week you rest fully in Him.