A Shoulder to Lean On

     You've been there and so have I: the times we feel weighed down as life presses in on us from every angle. It is a helpless feeling, isn't it? Finding a shoulder to lean on gives us comfort and support.     
      Jesus understood all too well what it was like to be human during his time on earth. We may be plagued with trials; however, I could never imagine the trials He faced.
       A verse specific to feeling weighted down appears in Matthew 11:28-30 as Jesus tells us:    
     "Take my yoke upon you and lean on 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."
      Years ago when I first came across this verse, my impression was that a yoke was something very heavy. A picture came to mind of oxen hooked up to cumbersome collars and beams so that they would be able to pull plows or other weighted machinery. However, I learned the yoke is not a singular piece that fit over each animal. Instead, it is a connecting piece that fits over both of them, hooking them together to pull weight in unison. This gave new meaning to Jesus' words for me. I pictured Him connected to me, helping me with the weight of my burdens as He took over the heaviest part of the work. This was a  comforting thought!   
      At the end of the verse from Matthew, he tells us, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Quite opposite the human condition, isn't it? While we tend to make life complicated, Jesus simplifies it. His words are a simple reminder for us to trust in Him and to listen to Him. Truly, He is the shoulder we can lean on--not just during adversity, but at any time.   
     When life gets to be too much, may you, too, be comforted by resting on the One who is always at your side.  
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