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Yoked

by Jennifer Scheer on May 09, 2017

I have a confession to make.  I am tired.  Tired of loading the dishwasher. Tired of picking up clothes and shoes that were discarded in the middle of the floor. Tired of planning meals that I am tired of cooking.

I am worn out. I am worn out from carrying the weight of my daughter’s chronic migraines. I am worn out from trying to meet expectations at work and at home. Expectations not created by others but by me.

I am burned out on all my doing. I am burned out from trying to prove that I am enough. I have allowed my striving to rob me of intimacy and connection with Jesus and the people around me.  I have allowed it to rob me of fun.  I don’t live like I am free.

This morning, I decided to stop the cycle. I decided to intentionally stop and spend time in God’s Word.  When I picked up my phone bible, there was an email notification on my screen that caught my attention. It was an email announcing the launch of a new devotional study by Jennie Allen, called “Proven.” These words penetrated my heart; “I don’t have to prove anything because Jesus proved everything.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Jesus provided the solution. (Of course, I already knew that Jesus was the answer, but my actions were not reflecting that truth.) In this verse, Jesus says, “come to ME,” “get away with ME”, “walk with ME, “work with ME,” keep company with ME.” The voice bible translation says it like this, “When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest.” What would it look like for me to live “yoked to Jesus?”

As I understand it, a yoke is a piece of wood that connects two animals together as a team, for the purpose of plowing. I don’t know how agriculturally accurate this is, but it brought to my mind a picture of being connected to Jesus as a team, working together, moving in the same direction. When my connection to Him is that close and constant, he can help carry the weight. He can steer my direction. He can help me keep going when I don’t have the strength. He is literally working with me all the time in everything I do. I am not enough by myself, but He is enough through me. He makes me enough.

I needed this reminder today. Jennie Allen sums it up well, “Jesus is saying, Keep coming back to Me and I will keep satisfying you. And out of that life with Me, you will overflow and bring life to others.”