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Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

It was just another early morning prayer time. Reading the Scripture, taking some notes, and listening to Him. As I moved my chair to get up from the desk I clearly heard the words inside me, “Put Down the Backpack.”

Right away I saw it. I immediately had a clear, mental picture of myself leaving my quiet time with Him and putting on a large, heavy backpack to “start my day.” Responsibilities, customers, schedules, the ‘to-do” list…all valid concerns but all mine.

If it wasn’t so pathetic it would be funny.

So, I sat back down and closed my eyes, and simply said to Him, “Help!”

And guess what?

He did.

Keeping my eyes closed I was able to see Jesus standing next to me and undoing that backpack. It was full of heavy rocks with each one having a task for the day written on it. None of these were imaginary thoughts or fears but actual “I’ve got to do it or it won’t get done” things…but I don’t have to do them alone.

He’s really here with me and He really wants to help.

When you are the chief cook and bottle washer it is far too easy to slip into doing everything in your own strength. Yet, who am I kidding? My strength (at best) will only take me so far but I have strength available to me that I often seem to forget.

When Frank was here with me there was a lot of Here, let me carry that. Apparently, I’ve not truly realized that the Lord would not have me carry a heavy load, either.

Matthew 11:28 is a well-known verse to us all. Perhaps it is the very familiarity of this Scripture that has made me not take full advantage of it. A version I had not seen before brought new clarity for me. The Aramaic Bible in Plain English reads,

“Come unto Me all you who labor and are forced to bear burdens and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I am peaceful and meek in My heart and you will find rest for your souls for My yoke is pleasant and My burden is light.”

forced to bear burdens… I certainly have found myself forced into decisions and responsibilities that I never dreamed of before. Yet if it is weighing me down then I must be trying to carry it on my own. I’m not doing it His way.

Does anyone remember, “Stop, Drop and Roll?” It was a phrase used for teaching fire safety to children. I think my catchphrase needs to be “Stop, Drop and Pray” Do I feel fear trying to run through my mind?

Stop, Gwen.., drop to your knees if you have to, and pray for and expect His help. He wants to anyway, He’s just waiting to be asked.