A Loving Invitation to the Tired Ones

“Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you.”​—MATTHEW 11:28.

1. What did Jesus see in Galilee on his third preaching tour?

NEAR the beginning of the year 32 C.E., Jesus was on his third preaching tour in the district of Galilee. He traveled through the cities and villages, “teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity.” As he did this, he saw the crowds, and “he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.”​—Matthew 9:35, 36.

2. How did Jesus help the people?

² Jesus, however, did more than just feel pity for the crowds. After instructing his disciples to pray to “the Master of the harvest,” Jehovah God, he sent them out to help the people. (Matthew 9:38; 10:1) Then he offered the people his personal assurance of the way to genuine relief and comfort. He extended to them this heartwarming invitation: “Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls.”​—Matthew 11:28, 29.

3. Why is Jesus’ invitation equally appealing today?

³ Today we live in a time when many feel heavily burdened and loaded down. (Romans 8:22; 2 Timothy 3:1) For some, just making a living consumes so much of their time and energy that they have little left for their family, friends, or anything else. Many are burdened with serious illness, afflictions, depression, and other physical and emotional problems. Feeling the pressure, some try to find relief by immersing themselves in pleasure-seeking, eating, drinking, even drug abuse. This, of course, only throws them into a vicious circle, bringing them more problems and pressures. (Romans 8:6) Clearly, Jesus’ loving invitation sounds just as appealing today as it did back then.

4. What questions should we consider in order to benefit from Jesus’ loving invitation?

⁴ To what, though, were the people in Jesus’ day subjected, so that they appeared “skinned and thrown about,” moving Jesus to feel pity for them? What were the burdens and loads they had to carry, and how would Jesus’ invitation help them? The answers to these questions can be most helpful to us in benefiting from Jesus’ loving invitation to the tired ones.

Those “Toiling and Loaded Down”

5. Why was it appropriate that the apostle Matthew reported on this event in Jesus’ ministry?

⁵ It is interesting that only Matthew reported on this event in Jesus’ ministry. Having been a tax collector, Matthew, who was also known as Levi, was well acquainted with one particular burden the people were carrying. (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14) Says the book Daily Life in the Time of Jesus: “The taxes that [the Jews had] to pay in money and in kind were exceedingly heavy, and they were all the heavier in that two forms of taxation ran side by side for them, civil taxes and religious taxes; and neither was light.”

6. (a) What was the tax system in use in Jesus’ time? (b) Why did tax collectors have such a bad reputation? (c) Of what did Paul feel the need to remind his fellow Christians?

⁶ What made all of this especially burdensome was the tax system at the time. Roman officials farmed out the right to collect taxes in the provinces to the highest bidders. They, in turn, employed people in local communities to supervise the actual work of collecting the tax. Everyone in the pyramid scheme felt fully justified to tag on his own commission, or cut. For example, Luke related that “there was a man called by the name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.” (Luke 19:2) “Chief tax collector” Zacchaeus and those under his supervision apparently built their fortunes on the people’s misery. The abuse and corruption engendered by such a system caused the people to rank tax collectors among sinners and harlots, and probably deservedly so in most cases. (Matthew 9:10; 21:31, 32; Mark 2:15; Luke 7:34) Since the people felt an almost unbearable burden, it is no wonder that the apostle Paul felt the need to remind his fellow Christians not to chafe under the Roman yoke but to “render to all their dues, to him who calls for the tax, the tax; to him who calls for the tribute, the tribute.”​—Romans 13:7a; compare Luke 23:2.

7. How did the Roman penal laws add to the people’s burden?

⁷ Paul also reminded Christians to render “to him who calls for fear, such fear; to him who calls for honor, such honor.” (Romans 13:7b) The Romans were noted for the cruelty and severity of their penal laws. Scourging, flogging, harsh prison terms, and executions were frequently used in order to keep the people in line. (Luke 23:32, 33; Acts 22:24, 25) Even the Jewish leaders were given the authority to administer such punishment as they saw fit. (Matthew 10:17; Acts 5:40) Such a system was certainly most repressive, if not outright oppressive, to anyone living under it.

8. How did the religious leaders load a burden on the people?

⁸ Worse than the Roman taxes and laws, however, was the burden placed on the common people by the religious leaders of the day. In fact, this appeared to be Jesus’ primary concern when he described the people as “toiling and loaded down.” Jesus said that rather than give the down-trodden people hope and solace, the religious leaders “bind up heavy loads and put them upon the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger.” (Matthew 23:4; Luke 11:46) One cannot fail to note in the Gospels the unmistakable portrayal of the religious leaders​—especially the scribes and the Pharisees—​as a haughty, heartless, and hypocritical group. They looked down on the common people as being unlearned and unclean, and they despised the foreigners in their midst. A commentary on their attitude observes: “A man who overloads a horse is nowadays chargeable before the law. What of a man who loaded 613 commandments on ‘the people of the land’ who had no religious training; and then, having done nothing to help them, condemned them as godless?” Of course, the real burden was, not the Mosaic Law, but the mass of tradition imposed on the people.

Real Cause of Hardship

9. How did conditions among the people of Jesus’ time compare with those in King Solomon’s day?

⁹ At times the material burden upon the people was a heavy one, so that there was widespread poverty. The Israelites had to pay the reasonable taxes set out by the Mosaic Law. Then during Solomon’s rule, the people cared for very costly national projects, such as building the temple and other edifices. (1 Kings 7:1-8; 9:17-19) Yet, the Bible tells us that the people were “eating and drinking and rejoicing. . . . And Judah and Israel continued to dwell in security, everyone under his own vine and under his own fig tree, from Dan to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:20, 25) What accounted for the difference?

10. What was the reason for Israel’s situation by the first century?

¹⁰ As long as the nation remained firm for true worship, they enjoyed Jehovah’s favor and were blessed with security and prosperity in spite of the heavy national expenditure. However, Jehovah warned that if they “should definitely turn back from following [him] and not keep [his] commandments,” they would suffer serious reversals. In fact, “Israel [would] indeed become a proverbial saying and a taunt among all the peoples.” (1 Kings 9:6, 7) Matters turned out just that way. Israel came under foreign domination, and the once glorious kingdom was reduced to mere colonial status. What a price to pay for neglecting their spiritual obligations!

11. Why did Jesus feel that the people “were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd”?

¹¹ All of this helps us to understand why Jesus felt that the people he saw “were skinned and thrown about.” These were Israelites, Jehovah’s people, who by and large were trying to live according to God’s laws and to carry on their worship in an acceptable way. Nevertheless, they were exploited and down-trodden not only by the political and commercial powers but also by the apostate religious leaders among them. They were “like sheep without a shepherd” because they had no one to care for them or to plead their case. They needed help to cope with very harsh realities. How timely was Jesus’ loving and gentle invitation!

Jesus’ Invitation Today

12. What pressures do God’s servants and other sincere people feel today?

¹² In many ways things are similar today. Sincere people who are trying to make an honest living find the pressures and demands from the corrupt system of things hard to bear. Even those who have dedicated their lives to Jehovah are not immune. Reports show that some among servants of Jehovah are finding it increasingly difficult to live up to all their responsibilities, even though they want to do so. They feel burdened down, tired, worn out. Some even feel that it would be a relief if they could just throw everything to the wind and disappear somewhere so that they could pull themselves together. Have you ever felt that way? Do you know someone close to you in that situation? Yes, Jesus’ heartwarming invitation has a great deal of meaning for us today.

13. Why can we be sure that Jesus can help us find rest and refreshment?

¹³ Before Jesus issued his loving invitation, he stated: “All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one fully knows the Son but the Father, neither does anyone fully know the Father but the Son and anyone to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27) Because of this intimate relationship between Jesus and his Father, we are assured that by accepting Jesus’ invitation and becoming his disciples, we can enter into a close, personal relationship with Jehovah, “the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3; compare John 14:6.) In addition, since ‘all things have been delivered to him,’ Jesus Christ alone has the power and authority to lighten our burdens. Which ones? Those imposed by the corrupt political, commercial, and religious systems, as well as the burden imposed by our inherited sin and imperfection. What an encouraging and reassuring thought that is right from the start!

14. From what toiling could Jesus provide refreshment?

¹⁴ Jesus went on to say: “Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you.” (Matthew 11:28) Certainly Jesus was not speaking against hard work, for he often counseled his disciples to exert themselves in the work they had at hand. (Luke 13:24) But “toiling” (“laboring,” Kingdom Interlinear) implies prolonged and fatiguing labor, often with no worthwhile outcome. And “loaded down” carries the thought of being burdened beyond the normal capacity. The difference can be likened to that between a man digging for a hidden treasure and one digging ditches in a labor camp. They are doing similar hard work. With one, the task is eagerly undertaken, but with the other, it is an endless drudgery. What makes the difference is the purpose of the work or the lack of purpose.

15. (a) What questions should we ask ourselves if we feel that we carry a heavy burden on our shoulders? (b) What can be said about the source of our burdens?

¹⁵ Do you feel that you are “toiling and loaded down,” that there are just too many demands on your time and energy? Do the burdens you are carrying seem too heavy for you? If so, it may help to ask yourself, ‘What am I toiling for? What sort of load am I carrying?’ In this regard, a Bible commentator observed more than 80 years ago: “If we consider the burdens of life they fall into two classes; we may term these the self-imposed and the inevitable: those which are due, and those which are not due, to our own actions.” He then added: “Many of us would be surprised, after a strict self-examination, to find how large a proportion of the whole of our burdens the self-imposed ones are.”

16. What burdens may we unwisely impose upon ourselves?

¹⁶ What are some of the burdens that we might bring upon ourselves? Today we live in a materialistic, pleasure-loving, and immoral world. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Even dedicated Christians are under constant pressure to conform to the fashions and life-styles of the world. The apostle John wrote about “the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life.” (1 John 2:16) These are powerful influences that can easily affect us. It is known that some have been willing to go deeply into debt in order to enjoy more of the worldly pleasures or to maintain a certain life-style. Then they find that they must spend an inordinate amount of time on the job, or take on several jobs, to get the money to pay their debts.

17. What situation may make it even harder to bear the load, and how may this be remedied?

¹⁷ While a person may reason that it is not wrong to have or to do some of the things others have or are doing, it is important to analyze whether he is adding to his load unnecessarily. (1 Corinthians 10:23) Since a person can carry only so much, something must be put off in order to take on another load. Frequently, it is the things essential for our spiritual well-being​—personal Bible study, meeting attendance, and the field ministry—​that are being put off first. The result is loss of spiritual strength, which, in turn, makes it even harder to bear the load. Jesus Christ warned against such a danger when he said: “Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare.” (Luke 21:34, 35; Hebrews 12:1) It is difficult to recognize a snare and escape it if one is loaded down and tired out.

Relief and Refreshment

18. What did Jesus offer those who come to him?

¹⁸ Lovingly, therefore, Jesus offered the remedy: “Come to me, . . . and I will refresh you.” (Matthew 11:28) The words “refresh” here and “refreshment” in Mt 11 verse 29 come from Greek words that correspond to the word that the Septuagint version uses to render the Hebrew word for “sabbath” or “sabbath-keeping.” (Exodus 16:23) Thus, Jesus did not promise that those who came to him would have no more work, but he promised that he would refresh them so that they would be fit for the work they must perform in harmony with God’s purpose.

19. How does one ‘come to Jesus’?

¹⁹ How, though, does one ‘come to Jesus’? To his disciples, Jesus said: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and continually follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Hence, to come to Jesus implies submitting one’s own will to that of God’s and Christ’s, accepting a certain load of responsibility, doing so continually. Is all of this too demanding? Is the price too high? Let us consider what Jesus said after he gave the loving invitation to the tired ones.

“My Yoke Is Kindly and My Load Is Light”

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”​—MATTHEW 11:29.

1, 2. (a) What have you experienced in life that brings you refreshment? (b) What must one do to receive the refreshment that Jesus promised?

A COOL shower at the end of a hot and humid day, or a good night’s sleep after a long and tiring journey​—oh, how refreshing! So it is when a heavy burden is lifted or when sins and transgressions are forgiven. (Proverbs 25:25; Acts 3:19) The refreshment brought about by such exhilarating experiences rejuvenates us, and we are energized to move ahead.

² All who feel loaded down and tired can come to Jesus, for he promised them just that​—refreshment. However, to find the refreshment that is so desirable, there is something that one must be willing to do. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,” said Jesus, “and you will find refreshment for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) What is this yoke? How does it bring refreshment?

A Kindly Yoke

3. (a) What kind of yokes were used in Bible times? (b) What figurative meaning is associated with a yoke?

³ Living in an agricultural society, Jesus and his hearers were well acquainted with the yoke. Basically, a yoke is a long wooden beam with two recessed areas on the underside to fit over the necks of a pair of draft animals, usually oxen, to harness them together to pull a plow, a cart, or some other load. (1 Samuel 6:7) Yokes for humans were also used. These were simple beams or poles carried across the shoulders with a load attached to each end. With them, laborers were able to carry heavy loads. (Jeremiah 27:2; 28:10, 13) From its association with burdens and labor, the yoke is often used figuratively in the Bible to symbolize domination and control.​—Deuteronomy 28:48; 1 Kings 12:4; Acts 15:10.

4. What is symbolized by the yoke that Jesus offers those who come to him?

⁴ What, then, is the yoke that Jesus invited those who come to him for refreshment to take upon themselves? Recall that he said: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” (Matthew 11:29) A learner is a disciple. Hence, to take up Jesus’ yoke simply means to become his disciple. (Philippians 4:3) This, however, requires more than just giving mental recognition to his teachings. It requires actions in harmony with them​—doing the work he did and living the way he lived. (1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21) It requires willing submission to his authority and to those to whom he delegates authority. (Ephesians 5:21; Hebrews 13:17) It means becoming a dedicated, baptized Christian, accepting all the privileges and responsibilities that come with such a dedication. That is the yoke that Jesus offers all who come to him for comfort and refreshment. Are you willing to accept it?​—John 8:31, 32.

5. Why would it not be a harsh experience to take up Jesus’ yoke?

⁵ To find refreshment by taking up a yoke​—is that not a contradiction in terms? Actually it is not, since Jesus said that his yoke is “kindly.” This word has the meaning of mild, pleasant, agreeable. (Matthew 11:30; Luke 5:39; Romans 2:4; 1 Peter 2:3) As a professional carpenter, Jesus most likely had made plows and yokes, and he would know how to shape a yoke to fit so that maximum work could be performed as comfortably as possible. He might line the yokes with cloth or leather. Many are done that way so that they would not chafe, or rub, against the neck excessively. In the same way, the figurative yoke that Jesus offers us is “kindly.” Even though being a disciple of his involves certain obligations and responsibilities, it is not a harsh or oppressive experience but a refreshing one. The commandments of his Heavenly Father, Jehovah, are not burdensome either.​—Deuteronomy 30:11; 1 John 5:3.

6. What might Jesus have meant when he said: “Take my yoke upon you”?

⁶ There is something else that makes Jesus’ yoke “kindly,” or easy to bear. When he said: “Take my yoke upon you,” he could have meant one of two things. If he had in mind the double yoke, that is, the kind that links two draft animals together to pull the load, then he was inviting us to come under the same yoke with him. What a blessing that would be​—to have Jesus by our side pulling our load with us! On the other hand, if Jesus had in mind the yoke bar used by the common laborer, then he was offering us the means by which we can make whatever load we must carry easier or more manageable. Either way, his yoke is a source of real refreshment because he assures us: “For I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart.”

7, 8. What mistake do some make when they feel stressed?

⁷ What, then, should we do if we feel that the load of life’s problems that we are carrying is becoming intolerable and that we are being stressed to the breaking point? Some may incorrectly feel that the yoke of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is too hard or too demanding, even though the cares of daily life are what are weighing on them. Some individuals in that situation stop attending Christian meetings, or they refrain from participating in the ministry, feeling perhaps that they would gain some relief. That, however, is a serious mistake.

⁸ We appreciate that the yoke that Jesus offers is “kindly.” If we did not put it on properly, it could be chafing. In that case we should take a closer look at the yoke upon our shoulders. If, for some reason, the yoke is in disrepair or is not fitted correctly, using it not only will require more effort on our part but will cause some pain as a result. In other words, if theocratic activities begin to seem like a burden to us, we must check to see if we are handling them in the right way. What is our motive for doing what we do? Are we adequately prepared when we go to the meetings? Are we physically and mentally primed when we engage in the field ministry? Do we enjoy a close and healthy relationship with others in the congregation? And, above all, how is our personal relationship with Jehovah God and his Son, Jesus Christ?

9. Why should the Christian yoke never be an unbearable burden?

⁹ When we wholeheartedly accept the yoke Jesus offers and learn to carry it properly, there is no reason for it ever to seem an unbearable burden. In fact, if we can visualize the situation​—Jesus under the same yoke with us—​it is not hard for us to see who really is carrying the bulk of the burden. It is not unlike a toddler leaning on the handlebar of his stroller, thinking that he is pushing it forward, but in reality, of course, it is the parent who is doing it. As a loving Father, Jehovah God is well aware of our limitations and frailties, and he responds to our needs through Jesus Christ. “God will fully supply all your need to the extent of his riches in glory by means of Christ Jesus,” said Paul.​—Philippians 4:19; compare Isaiah 65:24.

10. What has been the experience of one who takes discipleship seriously?

¹⁰ Many dedicated Christians have come to appreciate this through personal experience. There is, for example, Jenny, who finds that serving as an auxiliary pioneer every month and working full-time at a high-pressure secular job puts her under a great deal of stress. She feels, though, that the pioneer work actually helps her to keep her balance. Aiding people to learn Bible truth and seeing them change their lives to gain God’s approval​—this is what brings her the greatest joy in her busy life. She wholeheartedly agrees with the words of the Proverb that says: “The blessing of Jehovah​—that is what makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.”​—Proverbs 10:22.

A Light Load

11, 12. What did Jesus mean when he said: “My load is light”?

¹¹ In addition to promising us a “kindly” yoke, Jesus assures us: “My load is light.” A “kindly” yoke already makes the work easier; if the load is also lightened, the work is truly a pleasure. What, though, did Jesus have in mind by that statement?

¹² Consider what a farmer would do when he wanted to change jobs for his animals, say from plowing a field to drawing a cart. He would first remove the plow and then attach the cart. It would be absurd for him to hitch both the plow and the cart to the animals. Likewise, Jesus was not telling the people to put his load on top of the one they were already carrying. He said to his disciples: “No house servant can be a slave to two masters.” (Luke 16:13) Thus, Jesus was offering the people a choice. Would they rather go on carrying the heavy load they had, or would they put that down and accept what he was offering? Jesus gave them the loving incentive: “My load is light.”

13. What load were the people in Jesus’ day carrying, and with what result?

¹³ In Jesus’ day, the people were struggling under a heavy load imposed upon them by the oppressive Roman rulers and the formalistic, hypocritical religious leaders. (Matthew 23:23) In an attempt to cast off the Roman load, some people tried to take matters into their own hands. They became involved in political struggles, only to come to a disastrous end. (Acts 5:36, 37) Others were bent on improving their lot by becoming deeply involved in materialistic endeavors. (Matthew 19:21, 22; Luke 14:18-20) When Jesus offered them the way to relief by inviting them to become his disciples, not all were ready to accept. They were hesitant about putting down the load they were carrying, heavy as it was, and taking up his. (Luke 9:59-62) What a tragic mistake!

14. How can anxieties of life and material desires load us down?

¹⁴ If we are not careful, we can make the same mistake today. Becoming Jesus’ disciples frees us from striving after the same goals and values as the people of the world do. Though we still have to work hard to obtain the daily necessities, we do not make these things the center of our life. Yet, the anxieties of life and the lure of material comforts can have a powerful grip on us. If we allow it, such desires can even choke out the truth that we have eagerly accepted. (Matthew 13:22) We can become so preoccupied with fulfilling such desires that our Christian responsibilities become tiresome obligations that we just want to get done and get out of the way quickly. We certainly could not expect any refreshment to come from our service to God if it is done in that spirit.

15. What warning did Jesus give regarding material desires?

¹⁵ Jesus pointed out that a life of contentment comes, not by striving to fulfill all our wants, but by making sure of the more important things in life. “Stop being anxious about your souls as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear,” he admonished. “Does not the soul mean more than food and the body than clothing?” Then he called attention to the birds of heaven and said: “They do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still your heavenly Father feeds them.” Referring to the lilies of the field, he said: “They do not toil, nor do they spin; but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.”​—Matthew 6:25-29.

16. What has experience shown as to the effects of material pursuits?

¹⁶ Can we learn something from these simple object lessons? It is a common experience that the harder a person strives to improve his lot in life materially, the more entangled he becomes in worldly pursuits and the heavier the burden on his shoulders becomes. The world is full of entrepreneurs who have paid for their material successes with broken families, wrecked marriages, ruined health, and more. (Luke 9:25; 1 Timothy 6:9, 10) Nobel laureate Albert Einstein once said: “Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury​—to me these have always been contemptible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone.” This merely echoes the apostle Paul’s simple advice: “It is a means of great gain, this godly devotion along with self-sufficiency.”​—1 Timothy 6:6.

17. What manner of life does the Bible recommend?

¹⁷ There is an important element that we should not overlook. Though “a simple and unassuming manner of life” has numerous advantages, it is not in itself what brings contentment. There are many whose manner of life is simple by force of circumstances, yet they are by no means content or happy. The Bible is not urging us to renounce material enjoyment and to live the life of a hermit. The emphasis is on godly devotion, not self-sufficiency. It is only when we couple the two that we have the “means of great gain.” What gain? Further along in that same letter, Paul points out that those who “rest their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God” will be “safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, in order that they may get a firm hold on the real life.”​—1 Timothy 6:17-19.

18. (a) How may one find true refreshment? (b) How should we view the changes that we may have to make?

¹⁸ Refreshment will come to us if we learn to put down our personal heavy load that we may be carrying and to take up the light load that Jesus offers. Many who have reorganized their lives so that they can share more fully in the Kingdom service have found the way to a life of happiness and contentment. Of course, it takes faith and courage for one to make such a move, and there may be obstacles in the way. But the Bible reminds us: “He that is watching the wind will not sow seed; and he that is looking at the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4) Many things are really not that difficult once we have made up our minds to do them. The hardest part, it seems, is making up our minds. We may wear ourselves out by struggling with or resisting the idea. If we brace up our minds and accept the challenge, we might be surprised to find what a blessing it turns out to be. The psalmist urged: “Taste and see that Jehovah is good, O you people.”​—Psalm 34:8; 1 Peter 1:13.

“Refreshment for Your Souls”

19. (a) What can we expect as world conditions continue to deteriorate? (b) While under Jesus’ yoke, of what are we assured?

¹⁹ The apostle Paul reminded the first-century disciples: “We must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.” (Acts 14:22) That still holds true today. As world conditions continue to deteriorate, the pressures coming upon all who are determined to live a life of righteousness and godly devotion will become even greater. (2 Timothy 3:12; Revelation 13:16, 17) Yet, we feel the way Paul did when he said: “We are pressed in every way, but not cramped beyond movement; we are perplexed, but not absolutely with no way out; we are persecuted, but not left in the lurch; we are thrown down, but not destroyed.” The reason is that we can count on Jesus Christ to give us the strength beyond what is normal. (2 Corinthians 4:7-9) By accepting the yoke of discipleship wholeheartedly, we will enjoy the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise: “You will find refreshment for your souls.”​—Matthew 11:29.