What are my shoulders made to bear? What are your shoulders made to bear?

Bench pressing comes to mind. So some shoulders can bear more weight than others – the gym kind I mean.

But what of those burdens not seen with the eye? The kind that draw on our souls. How much poundage of that kind can we bear?

How much burden is my frame engineered to withstand? Am I shouldering burdens beyond the Designer’s blueprint? Are you? Do we often push our muscles beyond a healthy burn? Is there an instruction manual? And if so, what does it command?

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

via Matthew 11:28-30 KJV;CJB – Come unto me, all ye that labour and – Bible Gateway.

My shoulders. Your shoulders are designed for a yoke. A specific yoke. HIS yoke. And what does He say? My yoke is easy and my burden is light. But I’m worn out, I’m stressed to the max, I’m ready to scream, I can’t take any more!

When life is crushing the life out of me, it means one thing: I’ve slipped the yoke.

But there’s good news — we can return. We can return to the yoke and feel the relief.