The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 58
A Pleasant Partner in Jesus!
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
– Matthew 11:29-30
In yesterday’s devotional I mentioned that Jesus is inviting persons who have been wearily labouring on a wearisome job and heavy laden for a long time yet the job is not finished, to come unto Him in order to find rest. I likened this wearisome job to the difficult physical, mental or emotional and spiritual processing of persons who have experienced complex trauma and are on their journey of healing. Though the road has been extremely long thus far, there is still a long way yet to travel before the final destination is reached, that is before the total manifestation of your healing and deliverance. It is important to note that when you come to Jesus to get away from this wearisome labour it is only for a while for a time of relaxation, it doesn’t mean that your labour ceases. Jesus’ promise is not to prematurely, abruptly terminate your healing journey because it is wearisome for you but He promises if you come to Him, He will help you take a break from it in His presence where He can refresh you so that you can have the strength you need to continue your journey to the very end. God knows the plans He has for you on your healing journey and His plans include giving you an expected end or a hope and a future according to Jeremiah 29:11.
Therefore, in Matthew 11:29-30 Jesus also beckons, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The word “take” is from the Greek word airo, which means to deliberately lift or to deliberately take up (Renner, 2003).
The word “yoke” is the Greek word zugos, which defines the wooden yoke that joined two animals together so they could combine their strength to pull a load that generally would have been too difficult for one animal to pull by itself (Renner, 2003).
The word “easy” is the Greek word chrestos, which means pleasurable, delightful, or comfortable (Renner, 2003).
The word “light” is the Greek word elaphron, which describes something that is not burdensome, but light or easy (Renner, 2003).
Jesus uses the word “take” to let you know that after you have accepted His invitation to come unto Him, you must then deliberately invite Him to be “yoked” with you or join you on your wearisome, difficult healing journey so that He can help you navigate this entire process, physically, mentally or emotionally and spiritually. When you deliberately take up Jesus’ “yoke”, together you and Jesus are inseparable and your combined strength causes you to be stronger, which makes your healing journey pleasurable, delightful or comfortable. Being “yoked” together with Jesus causes even the toughest of tasks to become pleasurable. Oh, what a delight it is to work with Jesus! Your healing journey that is wearisome, difficult, and burdensome because you are going it alone can be light or easy if you would only grab a hold of Jesus’s “yoke”.
Maybe your wearisome, laboured and heavy laden soul of anxiety and depression is because of physical ill health, or grieving the lost of a loved one, or a broken marriage that resulted in a messy divorce after many years with whom you believed is your soul mate for life, or a custody battle for your child(ren), or the loss of your job and you don’t know how you are going to provide for you family, or delinquent teenagers – whatever your healing journey entails, Jesus wants to partner with you on your healing journey. Would you let Him today?
God bless you!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Papa I worship and adore You. I exalt and glorify Your name for You are Holy. Thank You Jesus for inviting me to come unto You in my weary and burdened state so that I can find rest in Your presence. I deliberately invite You to partner with me today on the remainder of my healing journey because it is too hard for me to go it alone. I declare that I am yoked with Jesus, therefore, I am stronger than I have ever been and my healing journey is pleasurable, easier and lighter. I declare that it is such a delight to be co-labourer with Jesus on my journey to absolute healing and deliverance. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name with thanksgiving. Amen!
