Take God’s Yoke

What is a yoke? Great question! In Biblical times, a heavy, wooden beam called a yoke was placed on animals to allow them to pull a plow or a cart. The heavy yoke that humans bear translates to any type of burdens we carry: a broken marriage, sickness, joblessness, sin, guilt. As a result, sometimes we end up plowing in the field of anxiety and depression. Once we come to God, He asks us to take his yoke, which is easy and light. (Matthew 11:29-30) With God’s yoke, He gives us His strength. We need God’s strength to overcome the weight of the world and experience true rest while plowing the field. Taking something from God, though, requires giving something to Him — our own heavy yoke and burdens. Laying down our burdens at the foot of the cross is a daily process. I had the bad habit of giving my burdens to God and then taking them up again or even picking up new ones the moment something went wrong, but that is not how it works. Taking God’s yoke is an exchange, not a substitution. It defeats the purpose to carry our yoke and God’s yoke. The problems of this world are outside your control, so lay all your burdens down and leave them at God’s feet, take up His yoke, and plow forward in freedom!