Finding a new grip

Have you ever tried to lift a piece of furniture that was cumbersome–not necessarily because of its weight but because it was awkwardly shaped? A few times in our married life, Robert has been stuck with me as his only moving partner. More than once, we ‘rode the struggle bus’ because my arm span wasn’t wide enough to grip a dresser or cabinet that, otherwise, I might have been fine to carry.

In life too, I find myself clumsily trying to manage a load that just doesn’t sit right.

As I was praying this morning, the Holy Spirit whispered, “Put down what you’re carrying.” As I continued to wait and listen, He added. “Find a new grip.” 

The longer I live, the more I realize that following Jesus doesn’t mean carrying everything. We are to cast our burdens on the Lord and to take His yoke, which is easy and light (Matt. 11:28-30; I Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22). It’s also true that following Jesus doesn’t mean carrying nothing. We are called to take up our crosses and to “bear one another’s burdens” (Matt. 16:24, Gal. 6:2).

I find myself asking God to show me what to let go of entirely and how to carry what remains. Three things I know for sure are: 1) I need God’s wisdom. 2) I am not designed to carry anything alone. 3) Jesus’ shoulders are more than broad enough to help me bear whatever I am called to carry.

My role is to find my grip and walk in step with Him. That is the lesson from 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.”–Matthew 11:28-30

In contrast to the heavy, legalistic burden imposed on the people by those who taught the law in Jesus’ time, His burden was and is light (Matt. 23:4). It is not light because it is less significant or even less demanding—no a full review of the gospels reveals that being a disciple of Jesus comes at great personal cost (Luke 14:25-35). Yet, His burden is still light because His yoke makes things easier to carry.

I remember a specific occasion when, after seeing that I could not get a grip on a large piece of furniture, Robert went and got a dolly. Our shared burden became much easier because of how we were carrying it. I did my part with ease, since I only needed to hold the shelf steady as Robert bore the bulk of the weight with the dolly.

This—making things easier to carry—is the function of Jesus’ yoke. We are tied so closely to Him that we cannot help but learn His ways. As we walk alongside Him, our character is strengthened so that it can bear the weight of hardship. Ultimately, we learn to lean into Jesus—still privileged to be part of His work, yet depending entirely on His strength.

Father,

Thank you for the honor of being yoked to Jesus. Help me to learn from Your Son. Give me wisdom to find the right grip, carrying only what you’ve called me to carry. May I depend wholly on your strength.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen