My Ever-Changing Yoke

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 28-30 (NIVUK)

My friend, Sherri, introduced me to an app called “Lectio 365.” It’s a free devotional app that, if you look at the reference above, you’ll see that it comes from our friends across the sea, using a Bible British translation, no less. Which is part of the reason I listen to it rather than read it. There’s just something about hearing a devotional read in a British or Irish accent that moves me even more. I know, silly. Anyways…

Here’s what captured my attention with this particular part of the devotional. They went on to explain that the word “easy” comes from the Greek chrestos, meaning “well-fitting.” In Jesus’ day, a carpenter would carefully craft a yoke for each ox. Each individual yoke was made to fit comfortably. The devotion went on to say, “When I hear Jesus, the carpenter, saying, ‘My yoke is easy,’ he is assuring me that the life he offers is perfectly tailored to my abilities and needs. His yoke is well fitting.” All this got me thinking, of course, about God’s fitted yoke for me. 

I would imagine that anyone who looks back at their life would see lots of curves and turns and plummets and mountain tops. Which makes me laugh as I think of how often God has had to refit my yoke. Not only when new jobs came or kids came or I moved to a new state, but, of course, when divorce hit and Eva fell and relationships broke. I’m astounded to think how busy he has been in the work room, possibly rolling his eyes, as he once again works on my yoke. In order for me to be able to live my life for Him as easy as I can. 

His yoke is easy and his burden is light. Which takes me further down the rabbit hole of thoughts. Imagining what my life would be like without God’s constant attention and readjustment. I’m wondering…I’m wondering… if the times when I’m in the darkness of pain and struggling with my faith, if that isn’t when God, ever so carefully, is removing my old yoke in order to adjust it. And then as he puts the new and improved yoke on me, if that isn’t the time when I begin to see life and God differently. With renewed eyes and a refreshed faith. And I get up in the morning feeling a little easier and a little lighter. 

If that’s the case, I’m amazed at God’s attention. Even though I’ve known from the beginning of my time that God knows my name, the number of hairs on my head and that there is nothing that can separate his love from me, this is far more extensive and more love than I have ever imagined. And I’m just one person. He’s doing this for everyone!!! No wonder Jesus was a carpenter and not a shepherd! 

I’m exhausted thinking about this for him. But extraordinarily grateful! This is a new level of understanding of the love of God. Which leads me to say…

He alone is my God,

the only one who is worthy of my praise, 

the one who has done these mighty (yoke fitted) miracles 

that I have seen with my own eyes.