We have a lot of Amazon deliveries. The boxes can be big and cumbersome, awkward to get your arms around. The other day, I picked up one large, long box expecting it to be heavy and a burden but surprisingly, it was light as a feather. On opening it, I discovered why. It contained a new seal strip for the bottom of the glass shower door. Big and bulky doesn’t have to mean heavy of burdensome. I don’t mind carrying those kinds of boxes up to our apartment.
It struck me recently, when 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 11:28–30, NIV)
…that what Jesus offers is a bit like carrying the Amazon boxes.
Jesus didn’t say we would be without burdens, but with him they are much more manageable. We still have a lot to carry and lots to do. Many of the things of life are awkward and difficult to work through—but with Jesus, we are promised life is different. The burdens don’t disappear, but there is hope when we trust him with them.
But there’s also something specific about Jesus’ invitation.
Jesus said the way of living he offered was far better than that of the religious leaders at the time. These leaders added to people’s burdens and made life difficult for them. Jesus had some stern words for them:
“Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden (Luke 11:46 NLT).
This is why Jesus’ words in Matthew 11 were such good news—they stood in sharp contrast to the heavy rules of the Pharisees.
I wonder if you are feeling weighed down by interpretations of others, perhaps even pastors or leaders, of what it means to be a Christian or how to live your life. Perhaps you feel you cannot keep up or have failed to meet the standards required.
But Jesus invited his disciples—and us—to live differently. He describes his yoke as “gentle and humble.” When we walk with him, the rule for living doesn’t vanish, but we are no longer crushed by it.
There are two things to notice here:
We have to come to Jesus first
We have to look to Jesus Himself. When you hear voices that heap guilt or pile on expectations, hold them up to the lens of Jesus. Is this voice gentle and humble, like your Savior?
Learn from Jesus’ way
Jesus invites us not only to follow his teaching but to mimic his posture. Gentleness and humility become the focus of our work and leadership.
“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).
This week, think about one area of life where you feel weighed down. What would it look like to carry that with Jesus instead of by yourself? How might his gentleness and humility reshape the way you approach it? And if you are a leader, how might you minister to others in a way that lightens their load?
Prayer is where heavy loads are made lighter.
Use this prayer and then leave a comment. I’d love to hear how Jesus is teaching you to carry life’s loads differently.
Pray
