Lately, I've been feeling a little bit like this flat tire I got a couple of weeks ago. Okay, I'm feeling a lot flat. I am exhausted. It's not that my life is bad; my life is actually going really well, all things considered, and I am so incredibly grateful. It's just that I hardly have time to breathe these days. I have so much stinking homework and music things to do that I can't keep up with all of it, no matter how hard I try. I'm doing well with time management, I've forfeited just about every ounce of social life and relationships I had before this semester, I hardly sleep because I'm consistently pulling all-nighters, my apartment hadn't been cleaned in three weeks before this evening and that was driving me nuts! I'm in class all day three days a week and almost all day the other two days. Then homework, practicing, etc. and my classes are more challenging and more time consuming than ever. I've been traveling for music stuff, kind of brought upon myself, it's true, but they were wonderful experiences. I'm trying to succeed in school while dealing with some pretty tough mental/emotional battles and that makes focusing a lot harder sometimes. Well, I think you get the picture so I shall move on and stop obsessing.
I came across this passage in my reading. Often times I come across passages I've heard and read a hundred times, but I suddenly see it in a new light. This applies here:
“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 (NIV)
Now, when I really starting thinking about these verses I realized that I had no idea what 29-30 meant. Internet research revealed a lot of different opinions and interpretations. I have kind of settled upon this as my understanding: One type of yoke is something that binds two animals together to pull or carry the same load. I think it's called a double yoke. Perhaps in this passage, Jesus is welcoming us under His double yoke so He can be beside us, so that we will bind ourselves to Him; He's offering us support so we never have to carry a heavy load on our own, and that can certainly give rest to the weary.
Sometimes I forget that Jesus really understands feeling tired and weary. He understands hurt and struggle. Goodness, He lived life here and dealt with so much. He really can help us.
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
His strength is not like any of my own strength. His strength never fails. Never has and never will. He is constant and everlasting. And that blows my mind. :)
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)
So now I shall get back to the absolute craziness of these few weeks. I pray that God will help me to continually strive to rely on God's strength, not my own, and to trust Him to help me with my burdens. I know that He is faithful.
"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14)
Be still,
Ashley Anne
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