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

(Not "take on yet another thing,"

nor "run faster,"

nor "just try harder,"

nor "have more "faith,"

        but Come to Me.

Taking His yoke means

walking with Him through

not just another

          one-up difficulty,

not just through the extraordinary,

      but through the ordinary.

Because in the everydays,

   God transforms our hearts

   and builds His strength in us.

His yoke changes

     our operating system,

     our vision,

     our response,

     and our journey,

even if circumstances

                never change.)

 

O LORD,

We thank You

that Your yoke

      gives us rest

even in the midst

   of toil and trouble.

Strengthen us

   as we walk with You.

Help us to lay down

   our burdens before You,

   our baggage,

   our worries and fears

as we take up Your yoke.

Help us to know

   that trusting You

   dissolves anxiety

and empowers us

        to walk with You.

We are not alone

                 after all.

We do not just

     need an ambulance,

     a tow truck,

     a band-aid,

     or an exit sign

       to get out of this mess.

We need You.