April 3, 2013 - The EASY Yoke

Have any of you ever found yourself discouraged with LIFE? Am I the only one who sometimes wrestles with the issues of the journey? I wonder how many of us sometimes feel we are yoked to circumstances that we feel incapable of carrying? Anyone got your hand in the air other than me? I am a problem solver by nature so I am not scared to take a problem, no matter how large, and start breaking it into smaller sections in order to resolve it's fury. However, I cannot say that many times I don't stoop down and grab the issue, or the participants in the issue, and hurl them on my shoulders. Of course you know, especially if you've ever been here, how exhausting that can be. Let's move to our health. As we get older, it seems the journey to achieve and maintain health can become so laboring. As youth, our energy often carries us and we assume the effects of bad choices will arrive 100 years later and we will deal with them then. Not so. Unfortunately, bad health choices while we are young become the yoke to disease and disease-related illnesses as we age. I often hear people say, "well, I'm just getting older." That thought pattern will steal the very life from our lungs! It yokes us to excuse-making, death statements that rob the REST and PEACE that God planned for our journey. Mind you I am not saying that we will never battle health issues, but I am saying that choosing well can help us to escape some of the heavy burden of bad consequences. Yokes were used to connect the oxen to the problem and were a sign of work. I don't know about you, but I would prefer to choose my own health journey and enjoy good health as opposed to being yoked to disease and have to WORK to try and solve the problem for YEARS. (no fun!) Maybe sometimes you get weary of feeling you're doing all you can to be healthy and are still suffering. Ask yourself - are you yoked to your problem or to Jesus, the problem solver? Our reminder today comes from Matthew 11:29 (MSG) 28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Jesus really wants to YOKE us to his plan for our health that gives life. And given the choice, I prefer the easy yoke as opposed to the work yoke. Anyone else? Loving and praying for you, PK