Every time I start writing a column, I end up explaining how hard things have been lately. It seems like they’ve been just plain hard for eons. First, there was COVID, then there was more COVID, then there was politics, and division, and anger, and war.

It gets a little heavy to hold up on two shoulders every now and again.

However, I just realized that the Lord only gave me two shoulders that are of a somewhat reasonable size for a purpose. There’s only one burden meant for those shoulders – and it’s easy and light.

As it says in 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.”

I cannot carry a pandemic, the grief, sorrow and pain of the world, the economic downturn, the mental health crisis, the conflict and suffering in Ukraine, the normal every day upsets and all the pain and turmoil of this world on my shoulders. I am not equipped. I can barely keep my own house in order. But I know the one who can.

And he does. And he will. And he loves us.

All Jesus asks is for us to come to him, learn from him and take his yoke.

A yoke is a beam that was generally used to fasten two animals together to plow a field. It balanced the weight and made it easier to manage, keeping both animals together and going the same way. A yoke gives you direction, and focuses your energies toward the goal that needs to be accomplished.

The Lord is asking us to take up this yoke, follow in the direction he has set out for us and learn from his ways, for he is “gentle and lowly in heart.”

I feel like I need some lessons in gentleness and being lowly in heart. I think I’ve been focusing way too much on how hard everything is, how bad things have been and how miserable I feel a lot of the time. While it is important to be aware of negative thoughts and feelings – I don’t need to live there.

I need to put that yoke back on, remember the direction I need to be headed and get my gripes and self-centered ness under control. I can let the Lord do the heavy lifting – and I’ll keep charging on toward the kingdom.

May grace, peace and mercy be with you always, dear readers. Be blessed!