Care Without Carrying
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
As a leader, you naturally feel the weight of what your staff or team members are going through. Their struggles aren’t just stories, they’re people you care about deeply. And sometimes, without even realizing it, their burdens become your own.
But here’s the reminder: you are called to care, not to carry.
Jesus invites us to cast our cares, not collect them. When we try to be everyone's solution, we end up emotionally depleted and spiritually drained. God never asked you to carry what only He can handle.
Just the other day, I left the office feeling heavy. One after another, team members came in to share what they were facing: family challenges, burnout, personal doubts. I listened. I prayed. I encouraged. But by the end of the day, I felt like I had all of it strapped to my back. I got in my car and sat there, not knowing how to shake it off.
It hit me: I was trying to carry what wasn’t mine to carry.
So before driving home, I paused and prayed: “God, I trust You with them. I trust You with this. Help me not just talk about casting cares but actually do it.”
That small moment helped me breathe again. It didn’t make everything go away, but it reminded me that I’m not their Savior, Jesus is.
So how do we lead with care, without carrying what’s not ours?
Here are four reminders that help me stay grounded and healthy as I lead:
1. Care Without Carrying
You can show compassion without taking on every burden. Be present, listen well, encourage, and pray but then release it to God. You're not their Savior. You're the servant pointing them toward Him.
Key reminder: You’re called to walk with people, not carry them.
2. Pause and Process
After a heavy conversation, take a moment. Don’t rush to the next thing. Step outside. Say a short prayer. Let the emotions settle. You can even journal or just sit in silence. Processing what you’ve heard gives you space to care without becoming consumed.
Key reminder: Debriefing is not selfish, it’s stewardship.
3. Create Boundaries, Not Barriers
Boundaries protect your soul; barriers shut people out. A healthy boundary might sound like, “I care about you, and I’m praying, but I also need to give this to God.” That’s not avoidance, that’s leadership with wisdom.
Key reminder: Boundaries protect your availability to serve well.
4. Trust the Shepherd
At the end of the day, you’re not the Healer. You’re not the Restorer. That’s Jesus. Let that truth bring relief to your soul. You don’t have to fix it all. You just need to be faithful with your role and trust God with the rest.
Key reminder: You lead best when you trust God to carry what you can’t.
Leading this way isn’t always easy, but it is freeing. When you feel the weight starting to build, pause and remind yourself: I’m not meant to carry this alone. Let’s bring it to God together.
God, thank You for entrusting me with people. Help me listen with love but lead with wisdom. Teach me to care deeply without carrying what belongs in Your hands. I release the weight I’ve picked up, and I trust You to carry it. You are the Shepherd—we are all just sheep in Your care. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Make it Personal:
What weight am I carrying right now that doesn’t belong to me?
Have I confused caring with trying to control or fix?
What would it look like to release this to God today?
