Rest for Your Soul

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28, emphasis added)

We usually stop quoting at the end of this verse, envisioning physical rest in the arms of Jesus. Physical rest does come, but not until we have done verses 29 and 30, which read . . .

“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” (emphasis added)

When 2 oxen are yoked together on a wagon, one does not pull and the other one just lies down to watch. No, they work together, sharing the load, making the load easier.

Jesus will not put the yoke on us . . . WE are to take the yoke. To yoke or not to be yoked . . . that is the question! It's our choice! We are a PERFECT fit with Jesus!!! Why do we fight the yoke so??? Because we are meat heads . . . carnally minded!!!

The benefit of the yoke is to give us rest . . . rest for our souls . . . our minds, our wills, and our emotions! We are very good at finding physical rest for ourselves but struggle with finding rest/peace in our soul. We fight against the very yoke, Jesus, who will give rest to our souls!

Jesus knows the battle(s) in our soul . . . our mind . . . our will . . . and our emotions! And He cares! When we are going through a soul battle, we need to RUN to Jesus, saying Wait a second while I put on this yoke! Say to Him . . . I don’t understand why I’m thinking this way. . . I don’t understand why I’m feeling what I’m feeling . . . I don’t understand why my will wants to rule and reign . . . BUT YOU LORD JESUS know and understand everything I’m thinking and feeling. I submit myself to you and NEED you to speak to me, to calm my soul. I choose to walk through this TOGETHER with you.

My soul has been fighting the yoke these past 6 days. But because I made the choice to put on the yoke and cried out to Him saying, I need to hear you, Jesus! . . . TONIGHT . . . I heard Jesus speak to me . . . and He is bringing rest to my soul as we share the yoke!!!

Why are we always amazed each time we realize we do not know what is best for our lives. We fight rest for our soul when we walk in the natural, rather than in the spiritual!

Thank you, Jesus, for patiently waiting for me to put on the yoke! Thank you that I don’t have to do this alone . . . that you are walking THROUGH this WITH me.