graphic: Martha G. Brady
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.
Matthew 11:28-30
This is the verse that came to mind when I heard the prompt today. This passage from GOD’s Word became precious a few years back…many years…the 1980’s. During that crazy time of life when you are driving kids to lessons, school, and events of all kinds…to say nothing of church activities too.
In the middle of all this craziness, I was in a car accident!
In the middle of all that craziness, I was in a car accident. Not really hurt badly…hit from the rear. But my neck was flipped around quite a bit. As time went by, my jaw seemed to have more and more pain along with stress headaches and tight muscles in my neck and shoulders.
Driving was miserable! We lived in Miami, FL at the time and not driving was not an option! Everything was spread out. 20 minutes here, 30 minutes there and we lived 45 minutes from the church Ron served the last four years we were there. The drive to my home health patients was usually to Miami Beach. A beautiful drive past the cruise ships, but 45 minutes to an hour one way. stop
As my doctor worked down the list of solutions to my pain during that period. This passage became familiar to me.
Martha, don’t take up burdens I haven’t given you to carry. You are trying to carry burdens that you aren’t meant to carry. They are for my shoulders alone!
It took a long time for that to sink in. I was so used to carrying loads I wasn’t supposed to be carrying. After the accident, my body couldn’t handle the stress of it all. The pain became too much.
Gradually, with physical therapy, orthodontics, relaxation training and counseling, I learned to find rest for my soul in the One who is gentle and lowly in heart.
I need to learn from the gentle and lowly One as I take on His yoke and wear it...finding rest for my soul! Share on XLearning from the One who is gentle and lowly
And isn’t that the key? He isn’t there balling us out for being weak or failing. He already knows what we are made of. He receives us when we are burdened down with love and tenderness. At times, the thought of His kindness brought me to tears!
That is the hopeful and encouraging part of this passage. I need to learn from the gentle and lowly One as I take on His yoke and wear it…finding rest for my soul!
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. Share on X
Martha, I’ve always loved that Matthew verse. It is so hard to not ask for help but God wants us to do just that, I’m visiting from FMF where I’m in the #12 spot this week.
glad you came by tara:) I’ve come to believe that asking for help is often a way GOD humbles us. yes, we can struggle along and do a lot of things, but we need to ask for help in order to realize we need others and not carry a load He never meant for us to carry. it’s part of being in community which is a huge aspect of being a christian and growing in grace!
I love this.
thanks denise:)
Martha, what a beautiful reminder to not take on burdens that we are not supposed to bear. I am one of those who tends to not ask for help when I should. Your post has reminded me to seek God’s heart concerning those burdens. I’m your neighbor at FMFparty!
welcome leah:) i can identify with you! i was an oldest child so i was wired that way, but having to come to the US for high school in a boarding school while my parents were in costa rica just reinforced it. it took a long time. i still have the innate tendency for sure, but GOD keeps working on that part of me with tenderness.