Perhaps you have experienced a version of religion that feels demanding and exhausting? It feels like when an institution demands you practice your faith a certain way, insisting their process is the only way, and their secondary (or tertiary) theological emphases must be prioritized while undervaluing the core tenets of true Christianity.

There is an easy yoke right in front of you that is being offered by Jesus himself. But to carry his light burden, you must first be willing to throw off all the religious weight that has been piled on top of you.

In a spinning world full of heavy demands and expectations, here are three things to help you cut weight and experience the easy yoke of Jesus:

1. Practice your faith alongside others who are safe for you

2. Seek connection with God, not just knowledge about God

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal burdens you are carrying that he did not ask you to pick up

If your pursuit of God feels burdensome, you’re doing it wrong. What would it be like for you to lay down the burdens you are carrying that Jesus never asked you to carry in the first place? What is at risk for you to lay them down? What would you gain if you laid them down?

May you remember these invitations from God himself:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

(Psalm 46:10, NIV)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28, NIV)

“My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matthew 11:30, NIV)

Jesus’s easy yoke empowers you to live a life of love with God, others, and self. Have you noticed that when following Jesus turns into a list of expectations and demands, love is the first thing to go? At the heart of following Jesus, you will find these words: 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27, NIV)

In Matthew, Jesus even goes so far as to say, “All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40)

What would it look like for you to throw off all the religious weight that doesn’t “hang on” the commandment of love with God, others, and self? Further, what would it look like for you to nourish your heart, soul, mind, and strength so that you experience love in all its fullness?

At Plumline, we help people recover the parts of themselves that have gotten lost or gone missing along the way. You may have found that in an effort to experience love or meaning, you let parts of yourself go that really mattered. Our guided programs help you regain those parts of you so that you can show up to the people and things who matter most. Life is not meant to be guided by demands and expectations. Will you do the work of recovering yourself so you experience healing and discover meaning in your life?

I’d like to invite you to check out our Groups page and discover the path of healing and meaning that Plumline can guide you on. From there, you are welcome to apply for a group and join our community of folks that are all working to experience life and it abundantly. 

Here’s to experiencing a life of love and meaning with God, others, and you. . . 

Love you and with you, 

Jake