Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” // Matthew 11:28-30
I stood in the kitchen of my childhood home with my arms around my mother’s shoulders, holding her close. We fit together, these adult bodies, mirrored in shape and size. Her arms were as much home to me as are the tile floors, pine cabinets, and blue countertops in our midst. She had taken on the responsibility of hosting another holiday gathering for the family, and I could tell it had drained her. I had brought with me my own stresses and worries from my life as a mom and welcomed the embrace, releasing my emotional load into her arms.
We took turns breathing deeply, neither wanting to break the embrace. Together we were safe and strong. Our unspoken burdens were made lighter by the yoke of love that extended across our weary shoulders.
We couldn’t stay wrapped in our hug for long. The duties of the day required us to break from our embrace and see to the pots and pans, the children and guests. But we could remain attached to the yoke of the Lord. We can allow Him to shoulder our burdens, direct our steps, and move us along at the right pace.
Jesus also calls us to that embrace, and He will never be the first to take away His arms. The yoke of His love is there for us to take. He has offered it. This embrace is a yoke that will tie us together, fit carefully across our shoulders so that the burdens are light. It fits across His weary shoulders and provides a frame for distributing the weight. It gives us the opportunity to rest mentally as we allow our progress to be directed by Him to Whom we are attached.
This yoke is our free choice and fit just for us. It allows us to share the load, but also to move in tandem with Him throughout our day. As you pick up your burden today, consider sharing it with the Lord. His arms are open and ready to accept all you have to share.
His arms are open. // @maryruthhackettClick to tweet
Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett is a writer, national speaker, and podcast host covering topics in psychology and faith. She holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and works at the important intersection of faith and developmental science, blending them in the original harmony God intended. Dr. Mary Ruth is the author of Daughter by Design: Discovering Your Identity as God's Beloved Daughter, and co-coauthor of Spiritual Discernment for Beginners: Learning to Hear God and Defeat the Lies of the Enemy. She is a contributing author to All She Had and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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