Life can wear us down in ways we don’t always notice. It’s not always the big things; sometimes it’s just the daily responsibilities, and busyness that can end up draining our energy. But this week I’ve been thinking about how we restore our weary souls and what Jesus said about it.
He said, “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)
When Jesus talked about a yoke he was using the illustration of the yoke a farmer used, which is a wooden frame that joins two animals together so they can share the load as they work. Jesus invites us to take His yoke and be connected to Him. The key difference about Jesus' kind of yoke is that when we walk alongside Him, He takes the heavier part of the burden.
Jesus being bigger and stronger than us, is going to be taking all the burden and load not us. He says walk beside me. Keep in step with me, look where I am going and leading you and learn from me how to do this life. His strength upholds us even when we may face and challenging things. He invites us to, “Give all our worries and cares to Him for He cares about us” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). That means letting go of the stress, the worry about your future, finances, or relationships, and trusting that He has it all under control.
If you find yourself feeling weary today, perhaps it’s time to consider what you’re yoked to. Jesus promised that His yoke is easy, so if you’re feeling worn down or overwhelmed, maybe you’re carrying something He never intended for you to bear, or to face alone.
Jesus said there would be trials, where we may feel like we are in the middle of a storm. But when we have the yoke of Jesus we learn from him how to go through those storms; to walk through the dark valleys and how to be at peace in the midst of it all. Jesus never feared the storm – he fell asleep in the boat in the middle of a stormy ocean.(Luke 8:22-25 ESV)
Today take a moment to assess the weight you’re carrying. Are you trying to carry the burden yourself? Are you yoked to something that isn’t from God—whether it’s stress, fear, or pressure from others? Jesus never promised a life without challenges, but He promised to walk with us through the storms. And just like Jesus slept peacefully in the boat during a storm, we too can have that peace when we’re yoked to Him. Let His easy yoke bring rest for your soul today. (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV;
Prayer; Jesus I come to You with all my burdens and worries, trusting in Your promise to give me rest. Help me to lay down the weights I was never meant to carry and to walk closely with You and to yoke myself to you rather than all the other things around me. Thank you for rest and peace today. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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