“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (vv. 28-30)

Have you ever had to learn something that is counterintuitive?

Whatever you thought was right…isn’t. The way forward proves to be the opposite of your expectations. Like a GPS that reroutes you from the predictable path, instruction moves you out of the pattern—on the road to your purpose.

Jesus’ way is like that.

He promises rest—such a gift!—but it’s not the kind of rest you might expect. It’s not a “lounge in church until you get a cloud and a harp in heaven” kind of rest. That’s lazy, both here and there. The rest He gives is the rest of security, of hope, and of the grace that frees you from works and self-justification.

And…

…that rest comes with a yoke and a burden.

(Say what?!)

Yes, the Jesus Way means being yokes like an ox, means carrying something. You are yoked to Him—which means you go as He goes and go as He sends, ultimately following Him and His purposes. You are carrying something—bot the weight of your guilt and shame and ineffectual offerings, but a cross, as you die to self and live for Him. This is not a nothing calling. Rest has a yoke and a burden!

But…

…it is so much lighter.

It is borne of mercy. It frees and it saves. And it carries you home.

That’s counterintuitive!

— Tyler