Are you Burdened Down?

Life has been weighing me down this week.  Every day I had a lot that I needed to accomplish and I have a lot to accomplish in the near future, and I might be at my breaking point.  Because of this I have had a heavy heart, a distracted mind and I have not been mentally with my family because I am worrying about the hundred things that are going to be coming at me.  Does anyone else feel this way? And honestly I didn't know that this was how I felt until yesterday, I was in a Relief Society* Presidency meeting when my dear friend said our opening prayer and it went something like this, “Father we come to thee burdened downed”.  Not until then did I realize that this is how I was feeling, and the tears flowed freely.  I finally recognized that I was feeling a heavy burden.

 In Mathew 11:28-30 we read,

 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

This scripture is me. I am laboring with all my might, and I am very heavy laden.  But did I come unto Christ as the scripture said?  No, I haven’t.  Not once this week did I say in my prayers, “I am feeling burdened with all that I have going on in my life, can you help me with my burden?”  No, all I prayed for was that I would make it through the day.  But He promised something better than just making it through the day.

               

                In verse 29 and 30 it reads:  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

A yoke is a harness that goes between two oxen.  It is usually made of wood so that it cannot flex, so that one ox cannot get ahead of the other.  The yoke makes it so that they must be side by side so that they can pull the burden equally.

                If Christ is saying take my yoke upon you, is He not saying keep me right next to you so that I can help you carry your burden.

                How do we yoke Christ next us?  It tells us in the very next sentence. I have never noticed until just now.  LEARN OF ME. What? I am burdened down with all that I have to do and Christ wants me to take time to learn of Him. He wants me to take time to read my scriptures, pray, and do things in my life that will bring me closer to Him. I am too busy; why should I? 

Why should I take the time in my busy life to learn about Christ?  Because I want the promise that follows, “and ye shall find rest unto your soul.” Isn’t that what I want, to feel peace; I don’t want to feel burdened by all that I need to do.  I want to feel peace.

But aren’t reading my scriptures and praying just more things to add to my burden?  Christ answers that question in verse 30:

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

He just told us that His burden is light. His burden – doing those things in our lives that will bring us closer to Him – does not add to our load.

Mosiah 24:15  And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

So this week I am planning on praying that the Lord will help me bare my burden, and Learn more of Christ, so that I can feel peace. 

If you find yourself feeling burdened I would urge you to join me in Coming unto Christ, and then share with me your experience.

*Relief Society is an organization of women from ages 18 and up in the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter Day Saints. This organization has a president, two counselors, and a secretary.