How Heavy Is Your Burden
How Heavy Is Your Burden
Even as I sit and enjoy the birds for a few moments I’m aware that time passes so fast it seems in the blink of the eye ten years have gone by. I am reminded of the value of God directing my time and path. But it is in the “waiting on the Lord” that I can gain valuable insight and direction for my world.
There are seasons in our lives that the world spins around us in a blur. There are times that we need to stop, take a deep breath, and connect with God; even when we don't think we have time to connect.
God gives us strength for what He calls us to do; anything above that we decide we need to do is in our own strength, time, and resources.
There are many good things to do in the world but that doesn’t mean they are good for us to do. We fill our lives so full of busyness that our time is gone. We are frazzled, worn out, and lose our focus.
Now is the time to stop, even for a few minutes and consider what Jesus says in the book of Matthew:
“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 yoked to something or someone that means we are sharing the load. If we are yoked to someone that lags behind or wants to go in a different direction we then carry the other. Pulling in different directions or struggling to move ahead is wearing: a constant pull against our life. Years ago, when farmers used oxen to pull loaded wagons or carts they had a strong, yet gentle ox lead a weaker that followed in a yoke. Together they accomplished the task and the weaker ox wasn’t worn out even when the team worked hard. Often Farmers would train a young ox by pairing it with a stronger lead ox. He could teach him how the task is done without risking the health or safety of the younger ox.
This visual example makes God’s message easy to see. He wants us to know we have the freedom to choose to become yoked with Him and learn from Him. If we choose to take on His yoke He will carry the load as we put on His yoke and come beside Him. As we walk with Him we will find rest for our souls; our burdens will be light.
The Holy Spirit inside of us is God in us, yoked with us, guiding us, strengthening us. When we read His word, we get to know who He is and what He values. When Jesus trained the disciples He was gentle, took time, and spoke to them in ways they could understand what He was saying. Yet, He was clear and firm about how He wanted them to treat each other and those they had the opportunity to encounter.
He wanted the disciples and all of us (that are Christ followers) to know we didn’t need to live this life and our purpose alone in our own strength. He had to go so that the Holy Spirit would come and dwell within us when we asked Him.
We would then have the perfect yoke partner, the lead partner who would teach us how to run and not be weary, walk and not faint even in the toughest of circumstances.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
Quiet time is so important. When I start my morning with the spiritual armor, reading the scripture verse for the day, and meditate, I have my focus on His words. Then I ask Him for His perspective for the day. My spirit is more at peace because I have chosen to step into His yoke walking side-by-side with Him, and letting the Holy Spirit take the lead.
That doesn't mean we won't be stretched to the limit. It means as we get to know him, learn of Him we will learn how to rest in Him. We will learn that as we have been yoked with the Holy Spirit living in us, it is His wisdom, grace, and strength that gives us His perspective.
It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit dwell in us but a much more powerful place to be yoked with Him. To choose to be yoked with Him says we submit to Him.
We will find it is in our weakness that He can be strong? Generally, we run out of ourselves and then ask for God's help rather than asking for His help, to begin with by stepping into His yoke before the day begins.
Today, will you make an intentional decision to step into the yoke with God?
