When It’s God’s Work and When It’s Mine: A Testimony of Holy Release

There was a season in my life when I thought awareness meant assignment. If I saw a need, I felt responsible. If someone was hurting, I felt obligated to fix it. If a problem surfaced, I believed it was my job to solve it.

And when I couldn’t? I felt guilty. Ashamed. Like I was failing God and failing people.

But the truth is—God never asked me to be the Savior. He already sent One.

The Weight I Was Never Meant to Carry

I didn’t realize how heavy the expectations of others had become until I found myself exhausted, overwhelmed, and spiritually drained. I was trying to be everywhere, help everyone, and solve everything.

But then the Holy Spirit whispered a verse that changed everything:

“My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” — Matthew 11:30

If the burden was crushing me, it wasn’t from God.

God’s assignments come with grace. People’s expectations come with pressure.

Awareness Is Not Assignment

For years, I confused compassion with calling. I thought that if God allowed me to see it, He expected me to fix it.

But Scripture says:

“Each one should carry their own load.” — Galatians 6:5

And just two verses earlier:

“Carry each other’s burdens.” — Galatians 6:2

At first, it felt contradictory—until God showed me the difference:

• Burdens are the heavy things we help each other with.

• Loads are the personal responsibilities God expects each person to carry.

I was carrying people’s loads and calling it ministry.

God called it disobedience.

Not because my heart was wrong—but because I was stepping into roles He never assigned.

 The Guilt That Didn’t Belong to Me

I used to feel guilty when I couldn’t meet every need. Guilty when I had to say no. Guilty when I didn’t have the emotional capacity to show up for everyone.

But God reminded me:

“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” — Philippians 2:13

If God didn’t give me the strength, the grace, or the peace to do it— it wasn’t my assignment.

Guilt is often a sign we’re carrying something God didn’t give us.

 People-Pleasing Is a Silent Prison

I didn’t realize how much I was living for approval until I felt crushed by disappointment— not my own, but other people’s.

Then God confronted me with this truth:

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” — Galatians 1:10

People-pleasing is a form of bondage. It makes us say yes when God says no. It makes us show up where God never sent us. It makes us responsible for outcomes that belong to Him alone.

 God Assigns. God Equips. God Completes.

One of the most freeing revelations God gave me was this:

If He didn’t assign it, He won’t anoint it.

And if He did assign it, He will:

• Provide the strength

• Supply the wisdom

• Sustain the effort

• Produce the results

Because “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” — Philippians 1:6

Not me. Not my striving. Not my perfectionism.

Him.

 The Freedom of Doing Only What God Calls Me To

Today, I walk lighter. I breathe deeper. I say no without guilt. I say yes with confidence.

I’ve learned that:

• I am responsible for obedience, not outcomes.

• I am called to serve, not to save.

• I am assigned to steward, not to solve everything.

• I am human, not God—and that’s exactly how He designed me.

And the most beautiful part?

When I stopped trying to do God’s job, I finally had the strength to do mine.

Final Encouragement

If you’ve been overwhelmed by expectations—your own or others’—hear this:

You are not failing. You are not selfish. You are not irresponsible.

You are learning to walk in alignment, not exhaustion. You are learning to discern calling from pressure. You are learning to trust God with what belongs to Him.

And that is spiritual maturity.