Yes, but...

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

What is the greatest obstacle in my life--what prevents me from being yoked with Jesus in daily life? It is the "yes, but...'s" of my life. I read His words, and in my heart I believe them: if I walk with Him, go in His direction, pull with Him the burdens that He has chosen for me, He will make life less burdensome than I can imagine. My mind loves the theory; in fantasy I rejoice at the relief of following Him in everything I do. In practice, when I do follow Him, I find peace and joy.

Then my emotions redirect my spirit. Can He really take care of this relationship? No, I will take over here and resolve this conflict once and for all; my way or the highway. Will He provide for my needs? Well, maybe, but what about those things that are wants that I have converted to needs in my head? Is He really in control of the circumstances of my work? No, He needs my help; not my cooperation, my help since I am so experienced. Is His timing perfect in all things? Well, maybe, but I think I need to push this along just to be sure it gets done on time.

Yes, but....that is how I respond to His invitation to share His yoke. Each time I really say yes and set aside my own agenda, I find peace and joy and knowledge of His love that goes beyond my feeble understanding. Each time I say "yes, but.." I am in effect lying to Him and deceiving myself, for the affirmative followed by "but" really means "no", especially when the "yes" that is called for is one of unconditional faith.

So what's the answer to eliminating or at least reducing the "buts" that follow my "yes"? Prayer...prayer...prayer...layered upon reading His word and topped with a curative dose of humility--asking Him to "help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24), to acknowledge that "in me dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18), and to recognize that His "grace is sufficient" (2 Cor 12:9)--to the extent that I allow Him to lead, to the extent that I pray as I breathe--continually and naturally, to the extent that I lose myself in His sovereignty and trust His omniscience and omnipotence, my burdens become His and I become His more fully than ever before.

Lord, the process is not complete, but You are able to bring us all to completion in You, if not in this life, then as we totally yield in the next. Let our yes's be just "yes" now as in eternity so that we may serve with joy, now and forevermore, and have the peace that only you can provide. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.