"Pile your troubles on God's shoulders—he'll carry your load, he'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin." - Psalm 55:22 MSG
When my three children were younger, my calendar used to make my stomach tighten just looking at it. As it hung on the refrigerator with all the scribbled-in reminders about practices, deadlines, appointments, errands, commitments I'd said yes to weeks or months ago without really thinking it through, it all seemed to stack on top of each other until the days blurred together. All that on top of working a full-time job!
I remember every night falling into bed exhausted, only to wake up and do it all over again. I loved the life God had given me, but I was tired, and there was no light at the end of the tunnel to signal things would soon slow down. No hope for anything changing for quite some time.
Somewhere in the middle of all that motion, I stopped feeling like I was living my life and started feeling like I was just surviving it.
Maybe you know that feeling. The to-do list that never actually gets shorter. The sense that if you could just get through this week, this season, this deadline, you'd finally catch your breath. Except the next thing is already waiting. Busyness has a way of masquerading as productivity while quietly stealing our peace. I used to think the solution was managing my time better. But what I actually needed wasn't a better system. It was somewhere to put the weight I was carrying.
We hear it all the time from well-meaning friends and family. The old cliché, "God will never give us more than we can handle." Yet, nowhere in the Bible does God actually say that. The confusion most likely originates from 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. " (NLT)
But notice this verse mentions temptations, not burdens. Not stress. Not chaos. Here, Paul is saying we will never be tempted beyond what we can stand up against in God's strength, not that we will never feel burdened beyond what we think we are capable of handling ourselves. And a packed, chaotic schedule is its own kind of burden. And when that light at the end of the busyness looks dim, even if we’re busy with good things, our hope for feeling like we can get our heads above water and start enjoying life can begin to fade.
In Psalm 55:22, we see David complaining to God about the heartache and fear resulting from friends who had betrayed him and enemies who were after him. His burdens seemed overwhelming, and in utter despair, he poured his concerns out to God. Yet in the same breath, we also see him choosing to pile those troubles onto God's shoulders, committing to trust and believe He would bring victory. Committing to holding on to hope that felt unattainable in the moment.
Your "enemies" are probably different than David's. Instead of enemies, they may be an overloaded calendar, the pressure to keep up, guilt over what's left undone, the stress of raising little ones, or the exhaustion of running on empty. But like David, we too can find comfort and hope for more restful times if we believe God is with us, patiently waiting for us to depend on Him and lay down the weights we're carrying.
When we're feeling overwhelmed by the pace of life, we have a choice. We can hold onto the chaos and keep white-knuckling our way through it, or we can release it to Jesus. We can feel crushed under the weight of a busy schedule, or we can surrender our stress for Him to carry instead. We can keep feeling stressed and anxious, or we can invite His peace to fill our hearts in the midst of busy schedules.
Take a moment today and ask yourself what's currently on your plate that you're carrying alone instead of laying at God's feet and exchanging it for His peace; where "busy" has become your default answer to "how are you.” What would it look like this week to pile just one thing onto God's shoulders instead of your own? Or maybe, just maybe, let go of something that God can use someone else to do?
Life can be hard. Schedules can feel suffocating. Demands can feel endless. But God is capable of carrying all of those things so we don't have to, and filling us with peace, joy, and purpose while we’re still in a busy season of life.
Let's pray ...
Lord,
I choose today to surrender my burdens, including the chaos of my calendar and the weight of my busy schedule, and trust You to carry them instead of me. Free my heart from the pressure to keep up and the guilt over what I can't get to. Slow my pace when I need slowing and give me wisdom to say no when I need to say no. Fill me with peace even in the middle of a full day, and help me stand strong in Your strength alone, not my own striving. Remind me that you are not asking me to manage the chaos on my own. You are asking me to hand it to you. Thank You that You are big enough to carry what I cannot, and that your peace is within reach if I simply ask for it.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
What truth from today’s devotional is God using to encourage your heart? Share your reflection and join our conversation in the iBelieve Truth Devotional Forum.
Feel like digging a little deeper? Here is a wonderful resource to meet you right where you are. 9 Prayers to Gain a Heart for Heaven + Daily Prayer Journal
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/kohei_hara
When life feels heavy and God seems silent, it can be easy to wonder if He has forgotten you. But your painful circumstances are not proof of His absence. In her book Unsinkable Faith: God-Filled Strategies to Transform the Way You Think, Feel, and Live, Tracie Miles helps you break free from discouraging thoughts, quiet the fears and doubts stealing your peace, and strengthen your trust in God, even when life doesn’t make sense. If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed, forgotten, or defeated, this book will give you practical, biblical strategies to renew your mind, restore your hope, and build a faith that won’t sink when the storms of life arise.
Tracie Miles is a bestselling author, literary agent and author coach who is passionate about helping women deepen their faith, overcome life’s challenges, and embrace the purpose God has for them. Connect with Tracie on Facebook and Instagram, or visit TracieMiles.com for more encouragement and resources.
Related Resource: The Blind Spots Hurting Your Relationships
In this episode of I Wish You Could Hear This, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with licensed professional counselor and bestselling author Debra Fileta for an honest and insightful conversation about the relationship blind spots many of us don’t realize we have. Together, they explore how emotional patterns, past wounds, and unrecognized habits can quietly shape the way we connect with others.
Debra shares practical wisdom on how to grow in self-awareness, strengthen communication, and take ownership of the ways we impact the people we love. Whether you’re dating, married, leading others, or simply wanting healthier relationships, this episode offers hope-filled tools to help you break unhealthy cycles and build deeper connection.
If you’ve ever wondered why relationships can feel harder than they should—or how to become a healthier version of yourself—this conversation is for you. Like what you hear? Be sure to follow I Wish You Could Hear This on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Like what you hear? Be sure to follow I Wish You Could Hear This on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 25 September 2026.
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