Carrying in groceries on a big shopping day is such a task that from start to finish on those days, I feel like I have had a great workout! I usually enjoy grocery day, but on days when I am getting a lot of stuff, I need to brace myself and be ready for it. If I am dragging a bit, I might even throw in the towel before I go! Now occasionally, by the time I get home, I have help hauling them inside the house from the car–task cut in half at minimum!
Before the first of the year, Steve and I had a discussion, and I can’t get away from a phrase I took from it– “equally yoked.” I actually have it in my head as my personal theme for the new year. Let me explain…
When a yoke (“a wooden bar that joins two oxen to each other and to the burden they pull”) is placed on a pair of animals, the idea is that they be equal in size and height. If not, they will not be working together on the task at hand.[1] Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
If I have help carrying in the groceries, the burden is lighter. If I take on Jesus’ yoke at His invitation, my burden in life is lighter. He said His yoke is easy to bear. Why then do we at times become laden with heaviness?
After my conversation with Steve, here is the conclusion of the matter…
When our burden becomes too heavy, we should consider as I have noted about myself:
Am I trying to pull ahead of Jesus?
Am I lagging too far behind, or dragging my feet?
Am I trying to run off on my own tangent, maybe even in a sense, breaking out of the yoke?
Taking on the yoke of Jesus is a perfect fit when we allow Him to gently lead. We may think we know best…or that we want what we want. But if we settle into his yoke, there is where we will find peace and rest. We stop trying to do it on our own by running ahead or off to ourselves. We stop lagging behind because of fear, or dragging our feet because of laziness or stubbornness. We settle into step with Him and enjoy the journey.
“Then Jesus said, “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 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/mat.11.28-30.nlt
[1] www.gotquestions.org “What does it mean to be unequally yoked?” 2/18/21
Simply Celebrate With Jackie 