Life comes with challenges. This is a common characteristic of our human experience. This time of year we have additional responsibilities and challenges added to our plate as we prepare for Christmas parties, programs, and activities.
In addition to our usual tasks, many of us are frantically shopping and wrapping for gift exchanges, baking cookies or special treats, shopping and prepping and planning for special meals, preparing the house for company – some coming from out of town, hosting events for our family, our neighborhood, or our church. So what are we to do when we grow tired and overwhelmed and just need to rest? Jesus offers an instruction and a promise in Matthew 11:28-29.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
When we are weary and burdened, we can go to Jesus. His instruction to go to Him and pick up His yoke is simple. But, what we must do first should not be overlooked. Going to Jesus assumes that we are turning from something and turning toward Him. Picking up His yoke assumes that we have first laid down our own yoke. So, what does this look like?
Jesus’ call to come to Him means we must turn our hearts and minds toward Him. This does not mean that we completely forget about and ignore our burdens. It simply means that we can confidently turn them over and turn toward Him. We can cast our burdens upon the Lord, and He will sustain us (see Psalm 55:22). When we lay our burdens at His feet, we then are able to exchange it for His yoke. We can’t take His yoke until we let go of our own.
The wonderful news about the yoke of Jesus is that even when we take it, He keeps ahold of it. We are no longer carrying our burdens alone. We have given our burden to Him, and He is carrying the weight as we move forward. Our share of the yoke is light in comparison to his strength. Through this exchanging of yokes, Jesus offers us healing, rest, comfort, and care.
What are the burdens you are facing today? In what areas of your life do you need emotional or physical healing, rest, comfort, or care? Will you turn to Jesus and lay down your burdens at his feet? Will you exchange your yoke for His and allow Him to demonstrate the power of his strength?
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