Let Jesus Lighten Your Load

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." – Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

There’s a story about a truck driver hauling a big box truck, and at every red light, he would stop, jump out of the truck, grab a big two-by-four, and start banging on the sides of the truck. He did this at every stoplight—bang, bang, bang—then hopped back in and drove off.

A pastor driving behind him couldn’t figure out what was going on. Finally, curiosity got the best of him. He followed the truck, pulled up beside the driver, and asked, “What are you doing? Why are you banging on the sides of your truck at every stoplight?”

The truck driver smiled and said, “This truck is only built to carry one ton, but I’m hauling two tons of canaries. So, to keep the truck from collapsing, I have to keep half of the canaries in the air at all times by banging on the sides of the truck.”

Now, doesn’t that sound a lot like how we try to handle life? We’re carrying way more than we were ever meant to, and instead of turning to God for help, we try to fix it ourselves. We’re out here “banging on the sides of the truck”—juggling tasks, micromanaging people, and exhausting ourselves just to stay afloat. But no matter how hard we try, the load is still too much.

That’s why Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 are so comforting. He says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus doesn’t ask us to “keep banging on the sides of the truck.” He invites us to come to Him, to take His yoke, and to let Him carry the weight. And the beauty of it is, when we yoke ourselves to Jesus, He doesn’t just share the load—He takes on the heavier part. He sets the pace. He gives us strength. And He gives us rest, even in the midst of life’s challenges.

Reflection Question: What burdens are you carrying today that Jesus is asking you to hand over to Him?

Lord, I’m tired of trying to keep everything in the air. Help me to trust You, to let go of my need to control everything, and to find rest in You. Teach me to walk at Your pace, knowing that Your strength is more than enough for me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Adapted from the sermon: "God's Answer for Stress": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/series/vn9m7tk/taming-toxic-emotions