My Yoke is Easy… 

I had a thought occur to me while studying Matt. 11:28-29. Why did I ever think I could learn to bridle all my passions without the Lord? OK… I’ve known this before, but I continue to forget. The Lord continues to repeat lessons for me because I continue to forgetful… sheesh… at least He is patient.

For years I thought if I counted enough calories, forced myself to move far enough, and lived a life of denying myself life’s pleasures, that I would miraculously become skinny. Silly me! This past roadside table experience is the perfect example of my repeated habits of striking out on my own without a thought of inviting the most important element in my quest… God. What little success I’ve had in the past was when I fully relied on the infinite strength of the Lord and not on my own “little” strength.

Those past 90 lbs. I got rid of 8 years ago was a blessing needed to allow for the arrival of my much wanted and prayed for daughter. I prayed and fasted with real intent as I worked hard to count steps, calories, and lost inches or pounds. The 50 lbs. I released last year I did with constant prayer and faith in the Lord coupled with eating right and exercise.

But I forgot. I began to be lazy. I stopped asking for His help and concentrated on my own efforts expecting results. Oops. My bad.

vs. 28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” The invitation is to me (along with all man kind) to come to Christ with what is my personal burden. My 350 pounds were a burden. My 292 pounds still feel burdensome. I feel heavy laden when I walk on the treadmill or for a stroll with my husband. I labor to work around my beloved yard and garden. I feel heavy on my knees, still causing great pain, as I pray. I believe this qualifies as “labour and heavy laden”. I see a new spectrum of “labour”; work at home, work in callings, work toward perfection, work in repentance, problem solving; and now adding work toward a healthy body. I’m not sure why I never noticed it before. I am shocked that I forgot the lesson was there! I guess I’m ready now to try again to place this burden on Him.

vs. 28 “…and I will give you rest.” That sounds like a promise to me. It doesn’t say “I might give you rest”. It says he WILL! What a wonderful promise! Peace WILL come. Pain will flee. Freedom will be mine! I’ve waited this long I’m sure I can wait longer. In the BIG picture my waiting is but a minute. It is worth it to wait.

vs. 29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn or me…” Now that is a picture. Me, pulling a load, and the Savior “yoked” to me. The footnote mentions that the “yoke” is his name. I’m shocked to realize that I am already “yoked” to the Savior through baptism and the blessing of the Sacrament. I’m “yoked” to the Savior when I repent; when I humble myself and realize that I need him every hour. All this time I’ve been “yoked” to the Savior, but I must have been pulling in a different direction or sitting on the job, or ignoring the fact that he can truly help me with achieving health. I understand even better, “oh ye of little faith”. I have little faith – not a bad thing because it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains, but beginning faith. More like toddler faith. LOL. I’d like to move on to adolescent faith.

Then, there is the command to “learn of me”. Before a couple of years ago I had never considered gospel learning to be a part of the burden lifting equation, but in reflection, I see that it has been all along. The degree to which I study the scriptures, serve others, and practice virtue is directly related to my ability to resist temptation – even chocolate chip cookies. There is a direct relationship with study and gratitude to physical movement and appreciation for my body. I’ve spent years loathing the very thing I fought for in the pre-mortal life! What was I thinking!?! No matter the size, this body is great! This body is needed to become more God-like! In fact, a body gives me the greatest potential to becoming Godly of all the gifts I’ve been given, with the exception of the atonement. Oh praise be to a loving Father and the Lord and Savior for the opportunity to learn self control, respect, and charity for my body!

vs. 29 “… for I am meek, and lowly of heart…” Meek= humble, gentle, teachable, servable, loving, forgiving. The process of forgiving is healing. The more I forgive and let the Lord handle my burdens, the lighter I feel; the quicker I recover; the happier I exist. Lowly of heart= a pure heart; a heart willing to leave all behind for something better. A lowly heart is a heart such as the king in the Book of Mormon that said he would give up all that he had to know God. I am finally in a place where my desire is to give up all I have; all temptations, all vices, all worries, all pains, all sins to know and be like the Savior. What’s more, I believe it – at least for today.

vs. 30 “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Easy. I like easy. Interesting that the way has always been easy.

Look at the symbolism in the story of the children of Israel being attacked by unhealthy poisonous snakes and all they had to do was look. They needed to shift their eyes from the dangerous snakes to a snake on a stick held up for all to see by the prophet. Think of the simplicity. The prophet holds up the scriptures (the stick) to show the people the healing power of the Savior (the snake on the stick) and all the people need to do to be saved from the cares, woes, and temptations of the adversary that plague them (the powerful and deadly snakes) is look.

Peter is another example of Look! While he was focused on the Savior he could walk on water. It was easy. When he took his gaze off the safety of Jesus, he sank. Amazingly, the Savior was right there to help the focus of Peter return and saved him. So it is with me. Keep the gaze upward. Focus on Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world and I will come off triumphant – eventually.

Light! Light is also the promise! What’s more, I love light! More light in my soul. More light in my countenance. More light on the scale. More light in my heart. More light in my life. Truly, the Lord is my Light!

The promise of rest is repeated again in these vs. It must be true! He promises it more than once. Freedom will come. The way is easy – if I just look! The way is Light if I but see. Freedom is mine, through and in the only name were salvation is found, even in the burden of concurring weight and health issues; freedom from the bonds that bind. Free.