Grab a Yoke & a Coke

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

                  

                         -Matthew 11:28-30

I’ve seen this scripture like never before today during my devotions. I just had to share. 

I know many times when I’m on the brink of burnout, or feeling discouraged in my purpose or calling, or at times when life just seems frustrating a little too much, I search desperately for some kind of relief. 

Simply put: we’re not made to be Wonder Woman and save the day like we think we should. Whomever came up with that role was definitely not a lady. (I looked this info up, and I’m right!)

We need breaks. We need moments to relax and take a “chill pill” as we used to say in my younger days. We need times of work and times of rest and regrouping. It’s vitally necessary. Balance. 

When we continue on the same path that’s making us feel like we’re losing the battle or wasting our time, fatigue and disappointment set in and we’re easy prey for the enemy. I’d venture to say that busyness is his number one weapon of choice in the day and age we live in. We get busier and busier, then when we can’t keep up, we are disappointed and discouraged that we aren’t able to finish like we’d planned - when we over-planned for ourselves in the first place. 

So, we need rest. We were made for rest. Jesus, being our example took time and had His space away from the crowd to rest and regroup. Why would we think we’d be any more capable or different? 

This verse though. How many times have we voiced our tiredness and frustration to others only to be told to get back to work? Pull it together. Get a grip. How popular has the phrase “no rest for the weary” become? Has it popped into your mind or seeped from your lips? 

Jesus invites us to come to Him and unload. I don’t believe this is only our problems and worries; I think it is also our agendas. I think we forget about that aspect from day to day. He desires to give us rest. 

When I’ve thought of taking His yoke on me in the past, its seemed like something hard and heavy. Today though, the thought of His yoke being a place of safety for my weary soul burst from my heart. He’s asking us to get into a place where we’re not trying to carry the load ourselves. He wants to protect us. He desires us to learn from Him. 

He is meek and lowly. He isn’t on a power trip - because He doesn’t have to be. He’s not going to pull His whip out or bash you for being weak and weary in body or spirit. He invites us into His realm of true rest. Safe in His arms. 

Then again, He reminds us, His yoke is indeed easy. Probably much easier than the one we put upon ourselves daily. The load He has planned for us is light. Again, maybe we take on entirely much more, and require so much of ourselves and others than we should. Are our expectations and to-do lists backfiring? 

If you’re tired and weary today, maybe it’s time to take inventory and see what can be different. Pray about it. Face it. Don’t keep running ramrod over the issues which might be tripping you up. Unload in the presence of a God who desires for us to experience rest. 

Let’s re-evaluate our days and lives so we can live them out in victory. Let’s be easier on ourselves and others around us. 

Take a moment for a cup of coffee or and ice cream cone. Leave the sink of dishes till later. Stop and do something refreshing!

I’ve always been amazed at the ads from days gone by. You know, the ones where everyone was smiling - even the dog? I was amazed when I stopped to look and realized how differently we live our lives today. We don’t smile and enjoy life near as much as those who came before us. Here we’re supposed to be so much wiser now, and have the ability to create machines to make life so much easier. What gives?!

Let’s regroup, replan our days and see what we might be able to let go of so we’re not so busy, stressed and easily burned out. Grab a yoke! 

Yes, I said a yoke, not a Coke. Learn to rest...and leave the rest to God. 

And, go ahead and grab a coke, watermelon slice or something else yummy and relaxing. Make it extra effective by doing it with a friend. It’ll do your body and spirit good. Not necessarily the Coke, but the time of pause from life will.  Selah’