Seriously. Don't we all feel like that? I scroll through my newsfeed that is filled with Pinterest Moms and Trophy Wives and often times the guilt of comparison hits me. I think, wow, my poor husband and daughter...they don't have a superhero Mom and Wife. A lot of times however, I'm looking at it all as I finally sink into my bed after a day filled with the monotonous duties of being a teacher, wife, mother, and grad student. I don't know how these super women do it! Most days, I'm exhausted. "Catching up on sleep" is a thing of the past. On Saturdays I'm lucky if I sleep past 7, and my good morning translates in toddler to "Mama, I need a snack."
Exhaustion doesn't just come from our physical duties in all of the roles that we hold but also our mental state. Worry, anxiety, and stress are proven to cause mood shifts, exhaustion, and other physical ailments. Just yesterday morning, I woke up a total grump. Neither William nor I slept well. Camdyn was up several times through the night and we are also dog sitting for my parents while they are on a cruise (insert jealous feelings here). This dog feels the need to sleep on me, pace the floors throughout the night, and pant non stop because she is so anxious to be out of her environment (talk about irony - an anxious person dog sitting an anxious dog). Anyway...I woke up angry. I hadn't slept. I was exhausted. It was Monday. I trudged to the car to go to work and William sends me a text that said "Jesus Loves You!" And I was glad he does because I needed him Monday.
Think about the last time you hung on the monkey bars (seriously, you know you did it the last time you took your kids to the park!). You can only hang on so long before that baby weight you gained during pregnancy, the fudge cake you splurged on last week, and your Krispy Kreme run start to weigh you down. Your hands feel the burn first, then your arms and chest and finally you have to dismount the monkey bars. The weight eventually wears on your body and you can't hang on any longer. The same is true with worry. It builds and builds and weighs heavier and heavier until you are both physically and mentally exhausted. Some days my brain and heart are so weighted down emotionally, I can almost feel it physically.
Lucky for us, that we have refuge when we are tired. When we are weary, there is someone to give us rest. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Tonight, my bible study served as a manual on how to receive the rest he speaks of. It involves being yoked with him. Technically speaking, a yoke is a tool used for two animals. Farmers often pair an experienced animal with an inexperienced one so that one can carry the majority of the load while the younger and weaker can walk alongside and learn. What a great analogy for being yoked with Christ.
Jesus invites us to become yoked with him because he wants to be beside of us, leading and guiding us, teaching us and giving us his strength. When we are yoked with Christ we have no room for worry or anxiety or exhaustion because he takes on that load for us. What a promise that is!
In order to be yoked with Christ, we must try to live in his will and let him lead us in our daily lives. I thought tonight about all of the things I "yoke" myself with or try to when I'm worried, tired, or anxious. A lot of times, it's friends. Sometimes it is advice seeking from others. While all can seem to be a good choice, the only real option is yoking with him and letting him be the solution.
Christ tells us that through fervent prayer, study of his word, and fellowship with other Christians we can become closer to him and be yoked as one with him. When we throw prayer to the wind, read Cosmopolitan for advice instead of the bible, and yoke ourselves with unbelievers, we break out of our yoke with Christ and are left trying to pull the heavy load by ourselves instead of having that help from Jesus. In order to be yoked with him and receive the blessing of rest, we have to be obedient.
Challenge: What are you yoked with right now? Anxiety? Worry? Stress? Failure? Read Leviticus 26:1-13 and note all of the promises God made to the Israelites when they chose to follow him instead of the Egyptians. How powerful a God we serve!