If we were sitting together with a warm cup of coffee, I might gently ask you: What has been feeling heavy lately?

Not the quick answer we give in passing, but the honest one we carry beneath the surface.

The things that linger in our thoughts.
The worries that return when the day quiets down.
The feelings we’re not quite sure what to do with.

You don’t have to rush to answer. Just notice what comes to mind, because often, beneath the surface, things have been taking root.

Not everything that grows in our hearts was intentionally planted.

Sometimes it is fear that quietly settled in during a hard season.
Sometimes it is striving that grew out of a desire to hold everything together.
Sometimes it is discouragement, comparison, or a quiet sense of not being enough.

We don’t always see these things right away. They form slowly, often unnoticed, shaped by experiences, words, and moments we carried longer than we realized.

Last week, we began gently noticing what might be present beneath the surface. This week, we take the next step: We begin to release.

Not all at once. Not perfectly. But honestly.

Just as a gardener tends the soil by removing what does not belong, Jesus gently tends our hearts. He does not rush the process or shame us for what has grown there. Instead, He invites us to bring it into the light and place it into His hands.

We were never meant to carry everything on our own.

Sometimes the most important step in growth is not adding something new, but letting go of what is weighing us down.

Scripture Reading

Let these words settle into your heart slowly.

Psalm 62:5–8 NIV

Pause and Reflect

Take a few moments to sit with what you noticed from Scripture. You may want to journal or reflect quietly.

You might consider:

• What feels heavy in my heart right now that I may not have fully acknowledged?
• Is there something I’ve been carrying that Jesus may be inviting me to release?
• What have I been holding onto tightly that might be safer in God’s hands?
• As I picture pouring this out before God, what do I sense He wants me to receive in return?

Soul Care Practice – Releasing What You’ve Been Carrying

This week, we practice releasing what has taken root. Begin by becoming still for a moment. Take a slow breath and quiet your heart before God. Then gently notice:

What feels heavy right now?
What have you been carrying that may not be yours to hold?

Name it honestly before the Lord.
You might pray:

Jesus, this is what I’ve been carrying…

There is no need to filter or fix your words. Simply bring what is true.

Then, with open hands, release it:

“Jesus, I give this to You.”

Pause here. Let yourself actually picture placing it into His care.

And then, quietly ask:

“What do You want to give me in its place?”

You may sense peace.
You may be reminded of truth.
You may simply feel a gentle steadiness in your heart.

Receive whatever He offers.

This is not about doing it perfectly. It is about practicing trust.
You can return to this throughout your day, whenever something begins to feel heavy again.

Carry It With You

Continue this practice throughout the week as you need it:
“Jesus, I give this to You. Help me receive Your peace.”

As you move through this week, remember that you do not have to carry everything you feel.

God invites you to pour out your heart before Him and find refuge in His presence.

If you’d like, I’d love to hear what you’re noticing or releasing this week. You can share your reflections as we sit together in this space as a comment here or in the Mindful Monday’s Facebook Group . Also, I was recently on a podcast sharing about some of my current and future projects, including this blog! Listen HERE!

I’ll meet you here again next week. Until then, have a blessed week walking with Jesus.