Heavy minds + heavy hearts = heavy bodies. If we don’t listen to Holy Spirit’s whispers, if we pay little attention to the weights upon our hearts, our bodies will talk to us. Mine specifically talks to me around my neck and shoulders. Tension builds, tightness forms, and eventually headaches will come–particularly if I just get too busy to pay attention.

This time, the tension lasted so long that my right shoulder ‘locked up.’ Scar tissue had formed so that I now am enduring physical therapy to break up those tissues that yell, “You can’t move your arm this way or that!” At least not without extreme pain!

Now, I don’t like my body to tell me what I can and cannot do. So where does the blame lie? With me. In my quiet time with the Lord, I clearly heard, “You are carrying [shouldering] unnecessary burdens!”

Heard that!! So, in seeking His direction, I studied Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus spoke to those who carried many burdens, yet had not finished their journeys. Considering the load they had, plus the length of time yet to fulfill their mission, He gave the perfect prescription: COME UNTO ME AND REST.

Rest is a time of refreshing and renewal; it’s not accomplished through a drive-by visit with Him. It’s in the soaking in the deep swim of His love. It’s in the realization that I’m safe and secure in Him. It’s where I am permitted to relinquish the weights I’ve allowed to beset me. This is where the cares of this life wash away and, as He declared, His “yoke is easy and His burden is light.”

After sharing this in Sunday’s message, a friend reminded me of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. He admonished “Be not unequally yoked.” Admittedly, I had applied that primarily to warnings concerning the joining in marriage. New revelation came through this word: be not unequally yoked with cares, concerns, worries, fears, anticipations…but be yoked with the One who promises the load is easy and light. Why? Because He’s walking with me and sharing the bulk of the load.

My shoulder is already loosening up.