My DH and I have been church hunting lately, found it was time for a change. I love it when you go into church not knowing what to expect, and God is waiting there, ready to speak to you! It’s been an incredible experience and I have learned so much more lately than I have in a long while.
In today’s study, I want to talk about something I mentioned in a comment on my Christians: Perfect? or Forgiven? article. Burdens and loads. I had an “ah ha!” moment when I heard this passage in a new light…. (Matthew 11: 28-30) — “Come to me, all you 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.” I have heard these verses before many times, but this was the first time I really got something from it.
First thing, we are all weary and burdened, aren’t we? I mean, in today’s age we have our own lives…we may work (at home or outside the home), we may have kids who are in soccer, gymnastics, dance, softball, band lessons and concerts…we have a spouse who comes home just ready to eat dinner or ready to shed all his problems and such in exchange for some good lovin’ …there are baths for the kids, bedtime routines, homework to check and recheck, practice records to sign….whew! We are weary by the end of the day, are we not, girls? All of these things also create burdens for us that we sometimes feel like we have to bear all by ourselves, too. Your husband is lying in bed naked, and all you want to do is go to sleep… Where do we go for some rest???
Well, in this verse, Jesus tells us to come to him. What in the world could Jesus do to help me with all my burdens and give me rest? Oh, child, believe me, He can do it. I am proof of it.
Let me take a step back here and give you a few definitions. First of all, what is a burden? A burden is something you cannot bear by yourself. My pastor told me in life there are burdens and loads. What is the difference between a burden and a load? A load is something that is the right size for you to carry. A grocery sack from the store is a load. You can carry that. Carrying in 10 grocery bags at one time…that is a burden.
In these verses, Jesus is asking us for a give and take relationship. If we give him our burdens, he will share the load. It reminds me of seeing oxen work in a yoke. When using the yoke, the oxen become partners bearing the load together. The work might be too hard for one to do on his own, but when pared together, the burden is much lighter. When we take on Jesus’ yoke, he becomes the Senior partner in the deal. The verse tells us to take his yoke and learn from him. I decided to do some research on how oxen are trained, and I found this quote, “Training oxen requires taking two separate animals, (selected for their similarities in temperament and willingness to work), which have previously been their own masters, and making them a team, that will work for another master” (www.prairieoxdrovers.com) Does this sound familiar? How many of us try to be our own master? I will raise my hand high and tell you that when DH and I were going through our marriage bed difficulties, I thought I could fix it myself. I cannot tell you how many times I told him we didn’t need to see our pastor or a counselor. I was a smart woman. Surely I can fix this myself. Well, desperate times led to desperate measures….I finally gave my burden to God. And yes, when the Lord takes the lead in the yoke, the burden is SO much lighter. I felt like a ten ton weight had been lifted off me, and it was exhilarating.
Part of our hope is that by reading the articles on our blog, that maybe we can help lift a burden from your life. Sometimes one person’s burden is another person’s load, and we are so willing to yoke with you to help you. Sometimes we have preconcieved notions about sex. Sometimes it burdens us so much when we’ve got misinformation or wrong information about what is acceptable to God in our marriage beds. Please let us help share your burden. Write in to us on the “Got Questions” thread with your burden if you do not want to post it publically. You can respond to this article. Whatever you feel most comfortable with, but know that is why God pressed upon us the need for people like us to carry other people’s burdens for a period of time until it can become a load for you. We will pray for you and help in any way possible.
Lord, Jesus, thank you so much for being willing to carry our burdens for us. You carried the biggest burden we have, our sin, to the cross for us, and for that we are eternally grateful to you. Lord, help this blog and the ladies on it to thrive in our marriage beds. Help us to bear others burdens for them when it gets to be too much for them. We love you, Lord, and praise you for all you have done and will do for us. In Christ’s precious name, AMEN!
Christian Nymphos 