Yokes and Burdens

To say that the last 2 weeks of my life have been rough would be an understatement. And yes, you may read faithfully (even though I do not blog consistently) and think that all I do is complain about my life. There are many great things but I need to write and process the hard things so this blog becomes that outlet. Please bear with me as I process the events of tonight.

I'm going to skip over the details of the last 2 weeks. Just please know that work has been incredibly difficult/discouraging, I've been incredibly lonely, I've had to make some hard decisions, I've been stressed about money and letting people down, and trying to figure out how to balance my so called life. I've been trying NOT to eat my weight in sweet-goodness and trying to be motivated to actually hit the gym. Which all leads me to today...


Most everything about today was just right. Church in the morning was good and encouraging. Came home and did my time sheet for work. Not so good but time sheet = money, and money =  less stress, so supposedly time sheet = less stress. Then I went over to my parents house and hung out with my mom for a couple of hours, just catching up on life while she was catching up on laundry. My mom is like my best friend right now and I cherish every morsel of time I get to spend with her. And then my siblings and dad came home and I got to hear about their vacation and just relax. I came back to my apartment and ate dinner and went to Lighthouse with my roommate. And let me tell you, there has never been a night that I've regretted my decision to go. I always, always, always come away encouraged, challenged, convicted, and ready for almost anything. Unfortunately those feelings are normally gone by the time my alarm goes off on Monday morning.

Tonight, Cliff was speaking from Matthew 11:28-30.

Come to me, all 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.

 Now this passage is preached on quite often. I'm sure I've heard numerous sermons about the analogies of the yoke used for oxen, and rest and how good God is. It's all old hat. But there's something about hearing it tonight and hearing the deeper translations of this passage that brought me to tears. After the last two weeks my heart was craving rest. Jesus broke open the jail cell my sin locked me in. And I've just been sitting there too afraid to leave. I'm free from all my fears, worries, my sins, my past, my mistakes, my bad days, all the criticisms. I can walk out of that jail cell free. My slate has been wiped clean. But I've been wallowing in self-pity, holding on the chains that once held me down but have been broken a long time ago. 


In Christ I am free. This yoke that He asks me to take has been fashioned just for me, with a nice neck rest and arm rests and is lightweight. The load is light, light as a feather in fact. And I don't have someone beating me to make me walk faster into some unknown place for some unknown reason. I have a loving guide, encouraging me who gives me a purpose for my walk and I know the end is eternity and there is only joy and dancing and love and singing. 


Being in God's rest means that I trust Him to take my pain away. And today, tonight I lay MY burdens and MY yoke from the master of sin at the feet of Jesus as an offering and an example of surrender and the way I kneel before Him in awe and reverence and total commitment that He will heal me and He has great purposes for that treacherous yoke and burden I laid at His feet. 

Lord, 
Here and now I lay down the worries of my day, the troubles on my mind, the burdens on the yoke I've been carrying myself for all too long. I leave them as an offering to Your Majesty. Lord I invite Your healing into my life knowing that You can and will heal me completely. Only You can offer healing and only You love me enough to make me whole again. Make me new again, Lord. I throw aside everything that has hindered me until this day: my fears, my past, my pride, my anger, my selfishness. I come before You broken and humbled by Your grace and mercy that are new every morning. So amazing You are!!! I thank You for who You are and that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. You have done great and mighty things across eternity and You will continue to do so and my life is no exception. Thank you for loving me and not overlooking little old me. Because to You I'm not "little old Lisa" but a precious unique daughter whom You sing over. You know all the hairs on my head and the days of my life. Thank You that YOU are in control and not me. You are so good. 
Amen.