His Yoke Is Easy

In a literal sense, a yoke refers to a wooden beam that is fitted across the necks of two animals (mostly oxen) which then allows them to work in unison and pull a heavy load. Metaphorically, it can refer to a positive partnership between two people working together, or to submitting to God’s gentle guidance and learning from Him.

But in a negative sense, it can refer to someone living under judgement of sin or feeling oppressed by a heavy burden. In Leviticus 26:13 God refers to a yoke of slavery that He freed the Israelites from: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves; and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright [with heads held high as free men].’

Are you struggling with a heavy load upon your shoulders and feeling oppressed? No matter how hard you try, does the heavy yoke just never seem to lift? Jesus extends an invitation to us to experience His rest in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labour 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” (NKJV).

You may know this scripture very well and still not experience His rest. This often becomes the breeding ground for confusion and frustration, with questions as to what you are doing wrong. It becomes an endless cycle of negative thoughts that warps your perspective.

Today’s scripture from Proverbs 3 brings so much wisdom. It comes with a promise from the Lord who makes our paths straight and smooth, and who removes the obstacles blocking our way (verse 6). But, for the obstacles to be removed, we need to identify them. We do this by asking the Lord to show us what they are. God instructs us not to rely on our own insight or understanding, but to acknowledge and recognise Him in all our ways. This means that we should enquire from the Lord about every single aspect of our lives. This includes how we see things and why we react the way we do.

When our burdens don't lift, a good place to start is by asking the Lord why we are stuck and to show us where our own understanding has become our plumb line. Sometimes the things we see as truth, are actually not the Lord’s truth over the situation. This is when the yoke becomes heavy and the burden bears down upon our shoulders. We don’t have to bear this heavy yoke. We can hand it over to the Lord and ask Him to instruct and teach us in the way we should go; to counsel us with His loving eye upon us (Psalm 32:8).