Matthew 11:28-29
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.”
The most insane thing that could happen to a person is laboring beyond your capacity. The world has taken hustle culture and exalted its position as if it’s the pinnacle of production. The truth is, nobody is truly effective without proper rest and management of their skills and ability.
Jesus says to us to find rest while yoked to him. The imagery is extremely interesting. Imagine seeing two cows yoked together while plowing a field. From the outside looking in, it would appear that both are pulling with equal strength. However, you have one cow who is older and the other cow who is younger.
The more experienced cow is able to handle a greater load than the younger cow. The younger cow may have more energy, but it is not prepared for the workload that is ahead. So the farmer yokes them together so that the younger can learn from the elder. The yoke is set in such a way that if the younger falters the elder can carry the weight and still accomplish what needs to be done.
I’m learning now that God doesn’t need me to get things done. I am chosen to make things happen, but I am limited in my humanity. When I understand and embrace my humanity, I must lean heavily on my big brother Jesus. I must find rest while on the journey, knowing that this race is not a sprint, but a marathon.
Today, take Jesus up on his offer. If the labor has taken you beyond the brink, allow Christ to give you rest. Allow Christ to lighten the burden, so that you can continue on the journey ahead. Manage your energy and your rest.
Dr. Charles W. Ferguson 