Isaiah, writing during a time when Israel’s hopes had been dashed, urged the people to shift their focus to what God could do for them instead of relying on their own ability. They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. Jesus picks up that theme when urges his followers to make a swap — to swap their yoke for his. Our yoke is our plan on how things should go. We want things to turn out a certain way and we try to our strength to bring that about. It is never enough. Jesus says, if we take off our yoke and put on his — the yoke of Jesus is trusting in God’s will — then all will be well. When we echo the Lord in Gethesemane — “not my will but yours be done” — we will find things are easy and light.
