Looking around the barn at the abundance of hay the farmer felt overwhelmed. Removing his hat, he scratched his head and looked at his ox, Betsy, “How am I going to move all of this hay across the field alone?” Betsy responded by scratching her head too.
Sighing, the farmer came to a decision. “Well Betsy, I guess it’s just you and me,” he said as he lovingly ran his hand down her back. “Neither of us can do this alone, so we are going to do this together.” The ox looked at him with soulful eyes as if she understood every word he said.
The farmer loaded the bales of hay onto the wagon under the watchful eyes of Betsy. Dragging out the yoke he secured one end of the yoke beam to Betsy. He then secured the other end of the yoke beam onto his shoulders. “Ok Betsy,” he said. “We are going to carry this load together. Let’s go!” They moved in unity out of the barn as the farmer guided them towards their destination.
WHAT LOAD DO YOU CARRY?
As we move through life, we all carry loads. Our loads are the burdens of things that weigh us down. Are daily tasks weighing you down? Do you feel the heaviness by traditions, fears, politics, disease, depression or finances? Do you feel burdened with responsibilities at work?
COULD YOU USE A LITTLE HELP?
We may not need to yoke with an ox like Betsy to move bales of hay, yet wouldn’t a little help benefit us all? If you could have some help, would you use it for big burdens or the smaller ones as well? When it comes to burdens, I think most of us categorize them as either important burdens or just part of life.
Perhaps we normally ask Jesus for help with those important burdens. What about the burdens that are just part of life? How many of us have had a miserable cold but thought, “I won’t ask Jesus for healing, it’s just a cold?” Or when we are overwhelmed with daily tasks, do we simply carry the load alone because it’s just part of life? I use to think that way. But then the Lord showed me how even the smallest detail of my life, like the number of hairs on my head, are important to him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?
And not one of them is forgotten before God.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows,
Luke 12:6-7
The Lord loves and values us so much that He does not want us to struggle alone and be burdened with even common colds or daily tasks. The scripture doesn’t say, only come to Jesus with our big or most important burdens. No, it just says if we are struggling or burdened, come to Jesus.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and ‘you will find rest for your souls.’
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light,”
Matthew 11:28-30 TLV
Jesus gave us a picture when He spoke of a yoke in these verses. The old wooden yokes were made so that 2 animals could join together to pull a load that was too difficult for one animal to pull by itself. The yoke linked them securely together making the tasks manageable by their combined strength.
Sometimes when difficulties arise, we scratch our head wondering how we are going to handle them. Our poor farmer didn’t have two oxen to help with his load, but by choosing to yoke with Betsy, he could accomplish something that neither he nor Betsy could do alone. We don’t have to carry our burdens alone either. Because Jesus loves us, He wants us to give Him our worries and choose to yoke with Him.
Cast all your worries on Him,
for He cares for you,
1 Peter 5:7 TLV
Yoking with Jesus and casting our worries on Him go hand in hand. When we give Jesus our worries, in faith we are trusting Him with the results. Then like the farmer guided the way when he and Betsy were yoked, Jesus guides the way when we yoke with Him.
AS WE WALK IN JESUS’ WAYS,
YOKED IN UNITY
WITH HIM,
WE WILL FIND REST FOR OUR WEARY SOULS.
REFLECTION
What burden can you yoke with Jesus?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write, Matthew 11:28-29 and say it aloud, I give you my burden_(name your burden)___. I choose to yoke with You. Help me to hear Your direction as You can guide me through it. In Jesus name. Amen.
IN FAITH YOKE WITH JESUS
May your day be filled with love and laughter,
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo ox, Michael Constantin
Photo women, Enndriqstudio
Photo yoked oxen, Pruidiaz
