The Yoke of Relationship

Today I read that very well known passage in Lamentations 3:

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail"

After several verses of the writer telling us how bad everything has been he recalls the faithfulness and loving kindness of the Father. He remembers that God is ultimately good and he puts himself back in an attitude of faith and dependence on God as his provider.

In verse 27 he tells us that "it is good man to bear the yoke while he is young". We often interpret this as a discipleship relationship with someone else. Such relationships are very important and, I know from my own experience, very valuable.

But I wonder if this is what the writer had in mind. He has just explained his own dire situation and how he was drawn back to unfailing compassion and faithfulness of the Father. He gives us three keys to a life lived in love.

• Wait quietly for Him
• Put our hope in Him
• To seek Him

I wonder if the yoke he is talking about is a life of relationship with the Father where we recognise our weakness and find a dependency in Him. Where we are held by the Father's arms and held fast to His love and kindness. I wonder if it is a yoke where we are held and carried by Him and where He does all the hard work.

Just a thought........