Day 19 of 40 Day Discipleship Walk with Jesus Christ: Develop a restful relationship

Thursday December 19th, 2024

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Matthew 11:28-30

“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.”

What would Jesus say about your learning so far? Imagine Him sitting across the room and He invites you to tell Him about your journey. He asks you if you are tired. He promises rest. He says He is gentle and humble of heart. He understands your weaknesses and struggles. How would you respond in terms of integrity, transparency and vulnerability? Where can you invite him be part of an area of your life that perhaps you felt was out of bounds or that He didn’t care about?

He called this relationship a ‘yoke’, like two oxen pulling together. He said it was well-fitting that made difficult things easier to carry. With a yoke, two animals can pull more than twice of what each can do alone. It is like riding a tandem bicycle and suggests journeying together; the idea of being very much accompanied and being a co-participant in the revealed plans of God.

“two people yoked together pulling a load” represents the relationship between a believer and Jesus Christ, where they are united in purpose, sharing the burden of life together, with Jesus providing the strength and guidance needed to overcome challenges, essentially signifying that the Christian is “yoked” to Jesus and pulling in the same direction as Him, following His teachings and relying on His power to navigate life’s difficulties.

A Short Story on Yoking

As I sit here, staring at the walls of my small apartment, I can’t help but feel a sense of suffocation. The weight of my relationship bears down on me like a heavy yoke, making every breath a struggle.

I met him in college, and we were inseparable from the start. He was charming, funny, and handsome – everything I had ever wanted in a partner. We spent countless nights talking about our dreams and aspirations, laughing and loving like we were living in a fairytale.

But as time went on, things began to change. He became possessive and controlling, constantly questioning my whereabouts and who I was with. He would get jealous over the smallest things, and our arguments would escalate into screaming matches. I felt like I was walking on eggshells, never knowing when he would blow up.

Despite the red flags, I stayed in the relationship. I thought that if I loved him enough, he would change. But the more I gave, the more he took. He drained me of my self-worth, making me feel like I was nothing without him.

One day, I realized that I had become a shadow of my former self. I had lost all my friends, my hobbies, and my sense of self. I was trapped in a prison of my own making, and I didn’t know how to escape.

It took a toll on my mental and physical health, leaving me feeling drained and hopeless. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of toxicity, with no lifeline in sight.

But then, something inside of me snapped. I realized that I didn’t have to be a victim anymore. I didn’t have to be yoked to this relationship that was suffocating me.

With a newfound strength, I packed my bags and left. It was the hardest thing I had ever done, but it was also the most liberating.

As I walked out of that apartment, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I felt free, like I had been born again. I knew that I would never be the same person again, and that was okay.

I had broken free from the yoke of toxicity, and I was ready to embrace my true self. It was a long and difficult journey, but it was worth it in the end.

Now, as I sit here in my new apartment, surrounded by my new friends and my new life, I know that I am exactly where I am meant to be. I am free, and I am me. BUT, there was a secret. I decided on beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ that helped me overcome this toxic relationship and i handed the burden over to Him. I have never remained the same afterwards. How about you? Try Jesus, Take that burden to Him now and drop it there at the foot of the cross because only Him can bring Inner healing lying below the surface that no one can see.. Start Now

For Reflection:

• Who can you discuss your ideas with about these questions?
• Why did Jesus call his invitation a ‘yoke’?

Make Life Count:

• Try taking a break in the day where you deliberately rest in Jesus. For 5 minutes, imagine him helping you carry burdens that are heavy for you to carry.

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