How to Actually Give Your Burdens to Jesus Christ

I’ve often heard people say, “Just give your burdens to Jesus Christ.” But if you’re anything like me, you may have thought, That sounds nice, but how do I actually do that? It can feel abstract, almost like a platitude. Yet the Savior’s invitation is real: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

The question is how?

Understanding the Concept

Giving our burdens to Jesus Christ doesn’t mean pretending our problems don’t exist. It doesn’t mean ignoring the pain, the stress, or the fear. Instead, it means allowing Him to carry the part we were never meant to carry alone – the hopelessness, the guilt, the weight of trying to control what’s out of our hands.

Through His Atonement, Christ descended below all things (Doctrine and Covenants 122:8). He already knows our struggles, and He has the power to lift us, not just emotionally but spiritually. When we “give” our burdens to Him, we are choosing faith over fear.

There’s a short poem that has helped me put this into perspective:

For every worry under the sun,
There is a remedy or there is none.
If there be one, hurry and find it.
If there be none, nevermind it.

If you’re someone who likes to be in control (like me) this is so freeing! If there’s a remedy, the Lord can help us find it. If there isn’t, then He can carry what we can’t change. Either way, the burden isn’t ours alone. “Nevermind it” doesn’t mean stop caring. It means stop clinging. It means placing it in the Lord’s hands and trusting His timing and will.

Practical Ways to Give Your Burdens to Christ

1. Name the Burden Out Loud
   Sometimes the first step is simply identifying what you’re holding onto. In prayer, say it out loud: “Heavenly Father, I am carrying fear about my children’s future. I don’t know what to do.” Naming it makes it real—and makes it something you can hand over.

2. Visualize Letting Go
   In your mind, picture yourself placing that burden at the Savior’s feet. See Him taking it from you. This mental act can shift your heart from gripping tightly to releasing.

3. Replace Worry with the Word
   Each time the burden creeps back into your thoughts, replace it with scripture. For example: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). Let His words push out the worry.

4. Act Where You Can, Trust Where You Can’t
   The poem reminds us: if there’s a remedy, act. Make the phone call, apologize, take the step. If there’s no clear remedy, acknowledge it and trust God with the outcome.

5. Keep Coming Back
   Giving your burdens to Christ isn’t a one-time event. It’s a daily, even hourly, practice. Each time you notice yourself picking up the burden again, gently set it back at His feet.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. The Lord doesn’t expect perfection in this process. He only asks for willingness. Every effort to turn to Him counts. As you practice, you’ll begin to feel lighter, freer, and more at peace.

Jesus Christ is not asking you to carry your struggles alone. He already bore them for you. Trust Him enough to let Him carry you too.