“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Recently I was having a heart to heart moment with the Lord, telling Him that something He had given me to do was starting to feel like an unpleasant chore. My joy in serving was definitely M.I.A! His gracious answer was to remind me of Matthew 11: 29-30, “Take My yoke upon you and learn of me…My yoke is easy and my burden is light”. I knew that God was saying that if I’m trudging along trying to pull what has begun to feel like a very heavy load, it’s because I’ve forgotten to invite Him to walk beside me in my obedience. I’d forgotten a much-needed ingredient—reliance on His wisdom and strength!

Jesus said, “My yoke is easy.” I’ve learned that the word “easy” in this passage comes from a Greek word that can mean good, virtuous, mild, and even pleasant! The more I’ve pondered this, the more I’ve determined to always share a yoke with Jesus. He knows the path ahead, and knows where pitfalls lie. He offers wisdom, wise counsel, and direction. Striving will melt away as I pay attention to and yield to His gentle nudges and tugs. His Spirit within me is the strength that bears any load, truly making my burden light. 

I think that when Jesus called out to the crowd that day, He’d seen their weariness. They were constantly striving, though never succeeding, to keep up with the demands the Pharisees put on them. The list of do’s and don’ts announced in God’s name was impossible to complete. They were yoked alright, but the yoke they wore choked them as they struggled to bear the heavy load.

Looking back, I believe that at some point I had hurried off to continue doing what Jesus had asked of me, and had mistakenly taken the wrong yoke! I’d inadvertently exchanged Jesus’ easy yoke for a burdensome one. I think the devil tries to subtly change out the yoke Jesus has given us for one he has made. The yoke he crafts may look similar, it may have the same name, and even the same job title, but nothing about it feels pleasant. Whereas the yoke Jesus offers us is designed to fit perfectly, allowing for room to grow, the one the enemy places on us is cumbersome, ill-fitted, and just too heavy. It turns the joy of Spirit-led obedience into a wearying burden. 

I’m sure Jesus smiled as I handed Him that awful yoke, replacing it with His. Now He’s reminding me often that it’s His yoke I’m wearing…the easy, pleasant one! When something feels like it’s too tight or it’s rubbing and chaffing, I know I need to check the maker’s label to be sure that what’s around my neck has JESUS written on it. 

Jesus, you have promised rest to those who are weary, burdened by life’s many cares. You didn’t say that life with You is without its load, but You have promised to partner with me in every load I bear. What an amazing thought it is to think that You, the One who created galaxies with Your spoken word, have offered me Your yoke! Lord, I want to always be led by Your ever-so-gentle tugs and nudges as you walk beside me. I sense Your caution that I shouldn’t take on loads I was never meant to carry. Help me to heed Your wisdom. I’m so grateful that when I’m yoked with You, the burden will always be light. How I love You Lord!