THE YOKE'S ON HIM

OK.

Last week I had a meltdown at the new house.

A big 'ol cry party, a poor-me sob story, a "I cannot cope anymore" moment…

In my defense, I am tired.

We are moving ourselves into this new home - (just call us Mr. and Mrs. Bekins).  And so, moving entails packing up 28 years of…ahem…stuff – and then driving it 2 hours up the mountain.  We've made multiple round trips the last few weeks, with many more to come.

So, I am tired.

But what set me off was so miniscule, so trivial – (so dumb) – that I hate to even bring it up.

It was…cable TV.

Last Thursday was our cable TV/Internet installation day.  I eagerly looked forward to this.  You see, it's not so much about TV – though I love my sports and *my* shows – it's really all about the Internet.

I need this little laptop screen of mine to connect with my *peeps* out there.  It's rather important to me now, but up there (away from everyone) I think it's crucial to be able to STAY IN CONTACT!

So, cable guy arrived and asked where the hook-up box was located outside. ("I don't know.  Isn't that your job?")  After a good half hour of searching, the bad news was brought to my attention.

There ISN'T any hook-up box.

Nope.

There is no ability to have ANY cable service up where we live (Mt. Everest, evidently) without paying thousands and thousands of dollars – not to mention that I sincerely doubt that any cable company would even go to the trouble (hassle) for ONE house.

I don't have $$$ laying around right now, folks.

He said he was really sorry.  I said I understood.  He left.  I went outside.

That's when the meltdown occurred.

You see, I began to realize all the changes that this move was going to require.  There are so many ways that I'm used to doing things – banking, marketing, getting our mail, chain stores, church, bookstores, etc – that's all going to change.  I don't like change…

You can't teach an old dog new tricks – mostly because the old dog doesn't want to learn.  

So, I cried.

"Lord," I said as I wiped my eyes, "this is going to be so hard.  And I am so tired right now.  I don't think I can take another step.  There's just too much going on, too much change, too many snags.  Where are You?"

And then I glanced to my right and saw…

…a yoke.

You see, when the sellers moved out of our new home, they didn't take everything with them.  And one of the *treasures* that they left behind was an old yoke for oxen.  I know – way cool.

There it sat, perched upon a nearby rock.  As soon as I caught sight of it, I smiled.

And Jesus and I said together, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you…For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

I felt calmed.

Yes, His burden is light and easy to bear because He bears the full weight of it.  We are yoked with Him, but He does all the pulling.  

That night when I finally got home (back to old home), I opened my devotions.  And, of course, what was the Scripture for the day?  Yes, Matthew 11:28.  The very same words that had come to me up on the mountaintop.


The Lord is so faithful.


He speaks to my soul with comfort, and renews my spirit with His love.


Here's the prayer that went along with the devotion:


A prayer when I'm TIRED
When I'm weary and in need of renewal

Dear God,
Thank you that you renew my strength when I grow weary.  Thank you for refreshing my heart…Thank you for refreshing my soul…Thank you for refreshing my mind.  Thank you for refreshing my body when I come to you in solitude.  And thank you for refreshing my perspective on life when I come to you…Thank you that I can draw strength from you, the source of all strength.

"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10, NASB)


How does God strengthen your tired spirit?


Linked today with Joan at the GRACE CAFE


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"