I have been in a situation for awhile that I have not enjoyed
for the last couple of years. I was pretty down about it last week, and was
talking to, no I was really wining to God and about it. I was pretty down and
discouraged. That’s how I started my day. I went to work and trudged out to see
my customers trying to put on the best face I could to have some degree of success.
As I was driving to my first appointment my friend George
called me. We don’t talk very often due to he lives in Bend and I in Portland.
Not far, but it is a distance. He doesn’t say hello, he just starts to quote
some verses from the bible to me. It was Matthew 11:28-30. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-31&version=NIV.
The verse says come to me all you that are heavy laden and I will give you
rest. The church I grew up in had a painting that took up the entire wall
behind the choir loft that had a picture of Jesus and that verse below. I always
think of that picture when I hear that verse. But George went on quoting the
verses after that. It says” take my yoke upon you and learn from me. My yoke is
easy and my burden is light. George then explained that oxen had a yoke put on
them in teams and the older stronger ox was put on the outside to carry most of
the load to help teach the younger ox. They just walked in circles all day with
the older stronger doing a lot of the work and the younger ox just trying to
stay up. When you’re in a yoke you can’t fight and go your own way, it just
doesn’t work. And you can’t do all the work yourself, you’re not strong enough.
I asked him what made him call me. He said I thought of you
and another guy. I called the other guy but he didn’t answer so I called you. I
am so thankful that he did. Those verses have been running through my head for
a week now. I know on an immediate level that I need to trust God bring my
worries and concerns to him. I confess that I’m struggling with that. However like
the younger ox, I’m learning and getting stronger.
