LETTING GO

Releasing what we were never meant to carry

We often carry far more than we were ever meant to—expectations, fear, guilt, control, and wounds we’ve held onto for years. Whether it’s rooted in past hurts, pressure to perform, or the desire to protect ourselves, these burdens weigh down our hearts and cloud our view of God’s presence and peace.

Scripture calls us not just to manage the weight, but to release it, to let go and trust the One who never asked us to carry it in the first place. This study invites you to examine what you’ve been holding onto, and to surrender it into the hands of a God who is both mighty and merciful.

LET GO OF…

Facing the burdens, mindsets, emotions, and control we cling to

Expectations

Proverbs 16:9
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Isaiah 55:8
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

Change (or Resistance to It)

Jeremiah 6:16
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

Isaiah 43:19
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

Fear

Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

2 Timothy 1:7
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Worry

Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Matthew 6:34
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”

Control

James 4:13–15
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”

Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Anger

Ecclesiastes 7:9
“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.”

Proverbs 29:11
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”

Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”

Hurt

Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Unforgiveness

Colossians 3:13
“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

Matthew 6:14
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Shame

Romans 10:11
“No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”

Isaiah 54:4
“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.”

Guilt

1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Pride

James 4:6
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Self-Sufficiency

2 Corinthians 3:5
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.”

John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Busyness (Striving)

Psalm 127:2
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”

Luke 10:41–42
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Money / Material Things

Hebrews 13:5
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”

Matthew 6:19–20
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

The Past

Philippians 3:13
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”

Isaiah 43:18
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.”

What lies have you believed or mindsets have you adopted that have kept you from releasing these burdens to God?

When you don’t let go how does it affect your relationships, peace, or prayer life?

Can you think of a moment where holding onto something (like unforgiveness, pride, or fear) caused more harm than healing?

What are you most afraid might happen if you truly let go?

Is the Holy Spirit prompting you to release something now?

GO WITH GOD

Trusting His promises, walking in His peace, living empowered

1 Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.“

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Exodus 14:14
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Romans 8:28
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Isaiah 40:31
“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 1:6
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Lamentations 3:22–23
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

How do you respond to the truth that God is able and willing to carry what you’ve been carrying?

Which promise from Scripture in the “Go with God” section brought you the most comfort or hope?

What would change in your life if you truly embraced God’s sufficiency, love, and faithfulness?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.