I’ve been thinking a lot about burden bearing these days
since I have several major burdens I’m trying to juggle.
It’s like hauling around overpacked luggage
that will burst at the seams if joustled one more time.
If you have a bad job,
you can quit.
If you make a meal that’s disgusting,
you can throw it away.
If you don’t like your living room,
you can paint it or rearrange it.
There are many circumstances in your life you can change.
There are many circumstances you can’t change,
you have to hunker down and ride out the storm.
I thought I knew what this verse meant.
Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.
But, knowing a verse, isn’t living it.
There has been times of spiritual calm and acceptance through our various trials.
We have been upheld by many Christians through their words and prayers.
Life has gone on as normally as possible.
But, I still feel the burden.
Another suffering sister shared Psalm 55 with me ~
and another burden verse was added to my meditations.
Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Cast literally means to hurl.
You take the burden and chuck it on the Lord.
My problem?
I keep taking it back.
I bend beneath the weight of it and just pray about it.
I often give things to the Lord in prayer,
but take them back in worry.
The yoke is to enable me to carry the burden.
I am yoked to Christ.
He will help carry the burden.
I can’t fight against the yoke.
Being yoked with Christ is more than just being saved.
Being yoked together is willingly following the path He has allowed,
following the lead ox without rebellion.
We can watch animals and make wisely discern the benefits of a yoke.
An unbroken horse is beautiful, but useless.
An unbroken ox is huge and strong, but useless.
Their power and their usability is only beneficial
when they’re broken.
when they surrender,
stop flinching,
stop wincing,
stop turning away,
stop tyring to go their own way,
when their master’s way
when their master’s way
is their way.
Now, put yourself in that mind picture as the unbroken ox.
OK, you wanna be a beautiful horse,
be a horse.
Picture the yoke
and
put it on.
You’re yoked with Jesus following His planned path.
Now, label your burdens.
Would you label it with a trial?
A physical condition?
A relationship?
Financial hardship?
Loneliness?
The death of a loved one?
Don’t struggle against the yoke,
it’s the only way to carry the burdens.
My goal is to truly understand Matthew 11:30.
I want to be able to sing with joy,
Burdens are Lifted at Calvary
Days are filled with sorrow and care,
Hearts are lonely and drear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Refrain:
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Cast your care on Jesus today,
Leave your worry and fear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Troubled soul, the Saviour can see
Ev’ry heartache and tear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
***
What are the burdens you are carrying?
Are you struggling against the yoke?
It is SO hard not to pick that yoke back up, for SURE!!!
Powerful. I read that verse yesterday and was asking the Lord for clarity on the "yoke is easy" part. I wasn't feeling it, you know what I mean?This was wonderful.
You'll never know how much these words spoke to me today. Thank you, Mindy!