I want you to imagine that it’s Sunday morning and you’re headed to church. You’d very nearly bailed. You’ve just been feeling so tired and discouraged lately. But you’d poured some coffee into a travel mug and headed out. The radio station is playing a familiar song . . . the hope-filled lyrics seem a bit out of reach. As you navigate the parking lot looking for those last few coveted spots, you watch families heading into the sanctuary, apparently carefree. You pick up your Bible and your purse, put on your best Sunday smile, and follow them.
Suddenly you feel this weight pulling on you. You look down and all the baggage from your life—the stuff you’ve been carrying inside for years—has become visible. And it’s not easy to look at.
Fear
Shame
Insecurity
Regret
. . . and more. It’s all there!
Panicking and not sure what to do, you look around and see that everyone else has baggage too. Everyone is weighed down by things they’ve been trying to bury for a long time. Then the service starts, so you just drag your stuff to your seat and sit down.
You hear a voice coming from the front of the church. It’s not your pastor’s voice; in fact, he is sitting at the edge of the platform, weighed down like everyone else. You realize that it’s Jesus speaking.
Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)
These words are met with silence.
Then an older man stands up, drags his bag to the front, and leaves it there. A young couple does the same thing. More and more people begin to drag their baggage to the feet of Jesus and leave it there.
Will you take Christ up on this amazing exchange?
You don’t have to carry your baggage for one more minute!
Jesus’ yoke is easy to bear and the burden is light.
Five Minutes in the Word 
Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shoulders—it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28–30 The Voice
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 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.
Isaiah 40:30–31 ESV
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Hebrews 12:1