If You Are Tired....

Matthew 11:28-30  "If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to Me and I will give you rest.  Take the yoke I give you.  Put it on your shoulders and learn from Me.  I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.  This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light."  CEV


Definition of yoke:  a device for joining together a pair of draft animals,especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with  two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal.


I just can't seem to get this verse out of my mind lately.   I have been reading the book of Matthew for a couple of weeks now and have been asking the Lord to show me "Jesus".   I yearn to understand, grab hold of and rediscover everything there is to know about God's Son.   I have also been very aware of  the great burdens that others and at times myself  are carrying without truly understanding the concept of who Jesus wants to be to us in those times.    So Matthew 11:28-30 has been where I have camped lately.   


When you look at the picture above of the two oxen....you notice that one is smaller than the other.   I choose this picture to represent Jesus and ourselves walking side by side.   Many times farmers will put a smaller oxen right next to a larger, more experienced oxen so that it will learn how to pull and handle the load that it is carrying.    The younger bullock which is smaller in size doesn't  necessarily pull any weight...it merely is learning how to walk in a field under control,  harnessed to a partner.   The big ox will pull all the weight and set the direction for the younger one, whose only responsibility is to walk alongside and learn.   Can't you see the vision of this happening in the verse in Matthew 11 ?   Jesus said that those who bound themselves to him would not bear a heavy load!!    This is huge!   Jesus is our "Burden Carrier"....all we are to do is hand them over to Him and learn from Him.    Notice however,  that our responsibility is to "learn".   Be intentional about watching and learning about our "Burden Carrier".   The more we learn about Jesus in this area of our lives, the easier it will be to bring all of our worries, burdens and cares to Him each day.


Jesus knows how tired we are of carrying heavy burdens all by ourselves.   We were never created to carry those BY OURSELVES!   Our body's, minds and souls are not made for that.  We hear all the time what stress does to a persons body.  Jesus calls us to come along side of Him,  take His yoke and learn of Him.  learn how to carry such a load.   Jesus as our teacher is humble and gentle....calling us to Him, with open arms!    It is then that we can find the rest we truly need.    The rest that He offers is a rest for our souls,  an inner rest that creates a calmness in knowing who is in control and that He loves us with an everlasting love.   When we know and walk in this rest and truth...our faith is strengthened and we can be about our Father's business.


The enemy hates it when our faith is strengthened and our minds are set on Jesus.   The enemy loves it when we are trying to carry those heavy burdens ourselves, because it is then that we become weary and our attention can be diverted.


What heavy burden are you carrying all by yourself?   Are you weary and tired?   Can you hear Jesus calling your name,   asking you to come to Him and let Him carry the load for you?    Go...go now and find the rest that is there waiting for you!