Friday Fight 255: The Burden Christ Never Asked You to Carry

Every Friday morning, during my quiet time with the Lord, He faithfully places something on my heart that speaks to the subtle, internal battles many of us face. This is Friday Fight 255.

How many of us have taken hold of a lie and unknowingly let it settle deep within our hearts? Phrases like “I should have known” or “it’s my fault” echo in our minds. When we sin against others, we often carry the weight of that shame for years, believing we must suffer before we can truly be free. But how do we finally let it go?

The Burden Christ Never Asked You to Carry

All of us unknowingly carry burdens, yet it’s the ones that we can’t seem to let go of that become problematic. What compels us to believe that, when we wrong others, we must pay the price of pain, regret, and self-punishment for our behavior? We have convinced ourselves that self-punishment is the price required to earn what has already been paid for.

One truth we can always remember is the words of Christ, “It is finished.” When something is finished, it is complete; not partial, not almost there, but done! We must ask ourselves, in our time of inward punishment, what more can we add to what He has completed? His sacrifice was not partial, His blood was not insufficient, and His cross was not lacking. This doesn’t mean we don’t address our wrongdoings according to the Word, nor do we have to supplement His unparalleled sacrifice with our suffering. Our pain could never strengthen what He has already made perfect, right?

We must let go of the shame and stop withholding joy from our own souls in an erroneous effort to somehow honor God. When we doubt that our sins have been forgiven, we are doubting the sufficiency of Christ and the cross. Romans 8:1 says, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” What does this passage look like practically? We ask for forgiveness while still clinging to our guilt and wearing our sins like a scarlet letter. By making this choice (yes, it is a choice), we are now standing outside the freedom that Christ has already freely given us. God will not force us; He allows us to choose.

This week, pray about letting go of the condemnation we hold in our minds and stop living as though death still holds authority over us. When Christ saves, He saves completely. When He forgives, He forgives fully. When He cleanses, He cleanses entirely. We do not have to be worthy; we just have to surrender our sins to Him.

Walk free, my friends!

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In His Grace,

Pastor Shannon

River Church