Companies that produce gear for camping and hiking are always trying to come up with something lighter and more compact. Nobody wants to carry something that is heavy and cumbersome. Light and compact is always better.
Jesus has a way of turning a heavy load into a light burden. In Matthew 11:28-30 He says, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Do you see it? What is “heavy laden” in verse 28, becomes a “light burden” in verse 30, when we yoke up with Jesus.
The word “light” is a word that means light in weight (in contrast to what is heavy). This Greek word, elaphron, can be also used in a figurative sense to refer to things that are insignificant and trivial – a light matter. Thus, when Jesus says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, He is saying that He will begin to bear the burden with you so that it becomes a lighter matter.
I was once facing a very difficult decision which was weighing heavily on my mind. I wasn’t sleeping well, and it was even affecting my appetite. Then I realized what I should have known all along – that the burden really belonged to the Lord. So I prayed and said, “Lord, this burden is too heavy for me. It is weighing me down and causing me stress. I give the burden to You and trust You to work it out in a way that is pleasing to You.”
Immediately I felt relief, and in time the Lord did resolve the problem. The heavy burden actually became light because He was now bearing the responsibility. The night of my prayer I slept well. He gave me rest in the midst of my burden.
“Take my yoke upon you,” Jesus said, “…for…my burden is light.”
Now you know the real meaning of the word.
What are you waiting for? Come to Jesus with your heavy load. He has a way of making heavy things light. I like that!