Grace and Peace Family!
Today’s Uplift: “Who Asked You to Carry That”?
“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
There are times when we are carrying too much! Too much of what we were not even asked to carry; too much of what we thought we needed to do alone or too much of burdens that don’t belong to us! Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed by the load I’m carrying, I remember that I was the one who picked it up in the first place! And I sense the Holy Spirit asking me “Did your Daddy ask you to carry that?”
It’s an inquiry that drives me to prayer. And more often than not, when I take an honest look at the pieces of life that are weighing me down, I discover I’m carrying things my Father never asked me to pick up.
I'm lugging around worries He's asked me to yield; I’m hauling around hurts that aren’t mine to heal; I’m exhausted by assignments He’s never asked me to complete and I’m collapsing beneath expectations that aren’t mine to meet.
It’s there, in that place of humble contemplation, that the words of Matthew 11:28-30 offer me relief: “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.’”
Guess what ~ Jesus’ invitation is still relevant for us today! A yoke is a device used to join a pair of animals that are working together. When Jesus beckons us to take His “yoke,” He’s inviting us to do life with Him rather than for Him. He’s making Himself available to partner with us, side by side and step by step.
While the phrase “easy to bear” (v. 30) may sound like a proclamation for a problem-free life, Jesus isn’t promising a detour around challenge or pain. He’s actually offering to make our load the right size for the journey. The original word for this little phrase can be translated as “manageable” or “well-fitted.” It paints a picture of a pack that is suited for the one who carries it. What an amazing proposition! When we share our steps with Jesus ~walking in His presence and following His Word — He promises that the load He places upon us will be fitted to the strength He imbues within us.
Overcomer, if the weight you’re carrying feels cumbersome, perhaps it’s time to hand it over to Jesus and ask Him to show you what was never yours to hold. We have a Savior who has fashioned our load in love. A Father who doesn’t ask us to prove our strength, but He simply invites us to rest in His.
Be Optimistic; Be Open Minded; Be an Over comer!!
Min. P