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Life is hard work, and facing changes can be hard work. Thankfully we do not need to face the changes and do the work all alone.
"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 11:28-30~
Ah yes, I am weary and tired of carrying this burden! I would love to rest, take it easy, just kick back and relax. Sounds good, doesn't it?
But then Jesus invites you to take on his "yoke" - wait, what? Isn't that for farm animals? Yes, it is. So how is related to "rest"?
A yoke is a wooden beam used to connect two animals, often oxen, so they can work in a pair. The kind we're probably most familiar with fits over the necks of the oxen. This oxbow type of yoke fits over the neck and has a swivel between the two animals that is attached to whatever they are pulling.
That sure looks like work to me. But it's also obvious that it's work done in a team. One animal will struggle to pull a load using a yoke designed for two animals. Yokes do need to be fitted to the animal for comfort and efficiency. When the animals are well-paired and yoke is fitted to the task, the work will be efficient. Perhaps not "easy" as in completely effortless, but efficient and purposeful.
You see, God has designed us to work. God works and he has made us in his image, to be creative and to do the work of caring for creation. When we do the work he's designed us to do, and do it with him, there's effort involved, but it's efficient and purposeful. We partner with God in doing what he's put in our hearts to do.
His yoke is well-fitted and helps us work efficiently. We always work as a team with him, and with his people. We can pull together instead of fighting each other.
Making changes in our own lives and coping with the unwanted changes that life throws at us is hard work. It is work made much easier by following God and by accepting the help of those around us.
Who do you need to partner with to ease your burdens? How can you ease someone else's burden?
For the Write 28 Days Blogging Challenge, I've decided to explore the theme of living well and with purpose during times of change. A few years ago, as I neared the end of my years as a homeschool mom, I realized my world would change when my youngest graduated. My roles in the homeschool community and in my social circles were affected. Things changed in the workplace. Things are ever changing at church. And as my children grew up and the nest has begun to empty, family dynamics are changing. To our surprise, my husband's job ended at the very beginning of 2022, and that has brought another round of changes to consider! I know very well that writing about coping with change is not the same as having all the answers. I'll do my best to share what I'm learning and experiencing, and I'd love to hear from others in the comments.
This post is part of the Write 28 Days Blogging Challenge hosted by Anita Ojeda. Find all my posts for the 2022 challenge here: 28 Days of Coping With Change
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