Holy Air Pockets

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30 NLT)

I often describe myself as an author, baker, and mischief maker, though not necessarily in that order. I write for the Christian market and feel so blessed to be able to share the written word with readers. And I love to bake, but sometimes I get in over my head.

Back in December of 2021, I went through a particularly chaotic season. I was on multiple book deadlines at once and was completely wiped out physically after directing a play at a local Christian theater. The stress caused my already weakened body to rebel. I was hit with multiple ear infections in a row and couldn’t seem to shake them.

When the Christmas season got underway, I took on a host of baking projects: party treats, Christmas cookie trays, gifts for friends, items for my baking blog, and so on. All good stuff, but.

It was too much. The arduous hours on my feet wore me down, and the lack of sleep (between the book deadlines and baking) left me frazzled and sickly.

When You Hit the Wall

I somehow survived but hit a proverbial brick wall. I don’t say this lightly. I came to the end of my ability to function. The exhaustion affected everything–my health, my diet, my ability to write, every area you could possibly imagine.

When you reach that point, nothing makes sense. You completely and totally shut down. Even the tiniest things feel impossible.

Right away, God started slamming doors on many areas of my life, and all at once! I found this jarring, albeit necessary. I had to quickly learn to use the word “No.” Trust me, that’s not a word that comes naturally to me.

A Heavy Yoke

During this season, I focused on the verse above from Matthew 11. When we take on too much, the yoke (burden) is heavy. But when we let those things go and place them in God’s capable hands, He swaps them out for a different yoke, one that is light. The road is easier to navigate when the load is lighter.

The “yoke” Jesus referred to was an oxen’s yoke, but that’s not where my mind went. As a baker, my thoughts traveled to a different place altogether when I read the word “yoke” aloud. I immediately thought of an egg’s yolk.

The yolk of the egg is the weightiest part. It’s packed full of protein and is nutrient dense. When I want to enrich a cake (make it heavier or richer), I add extra eggs, specifically because of the yolks.

But when I want to lighten things up (make a chiffon cake, for instance), I skip the yolks and just use the whites of the eggs.

Egg whites can be whipped until they’re light and fluffy, then folded into a cake’s batter to create air pockets, resulting in a much lighter finished product. The white of the egg is also the protective barrier for the yolk.

God Is Our Protector

Over the past few months, God has been protecting me by removing many of the yolks/yokes in my life. He’s been working overtime, lightening my load, creating air pockets so that I can breathe, rest, and regroup.

I’ll be honest: It hasn’t been easy. It’s actually been frustrating and scary at times. That’s how it is when you let go of the reins and trust him. In my case, these changes have been absolutely essential for my survival.

I don’t know where you are. I don’t know the weight of the yoke you’re carrying at this moment. But I do know that the Lord loves you and wants to relieve your burden so that you’re free to better serve him.

If your yoke is heavy, ask Jesus to take it. But be prepared for some changes in your heart, mind, and situation. Be prepared for him to rearrange your days and reconfigure your journey. Be prepared for air pockets: Time with him. Time with family. Time with pets. Respite. Refreshment. Be prepared to say no, even to some good things. Some fun things. Some “usual” things.

His yoke is easy. He wants to lighten things up. But Jesus is a gentleman, and he’s gracious enough to wait on you.

What do you need to say no to today? May God give you the courage to speak up so that he can create air pockets. Then, after you’ve caught your breath, he will give you the strength to do the things he’s actually called you to do.

Trust me, friend, the finished product will be much, much lighter.

Lord, I don’t pretend to have all of the answers. I’m so sorry for getting in over my head and for adding to the weight of what I’m carrying. I want to do only what you’ve called me to do–nothing more and nothing less. Remove all of the things that are not mine to carry. Take away the burdens that were never mine to bear. Please give me the rest I need to move forward with you so that I can accomplish all that you have given me to do. Thank you for holy air pockets, Jesus. Amen.

Award-winning author Janice Thompson got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. She has published over 150 books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. She particularly enjoys writing light-hearted, comedic tales because she enjoys making readers laugh. Her most recent novel, Off the Chain, just released with Barbour Publishing. She has also written multiple books for Dayspring, including Just Roll with It, a baking devotional. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. Her tagline, “Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters!” sums up her take on life. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and three mischievous dogs. When she’s not busy writing or playing with her nine grandchildren, Janice can be found in the kitchen, baking specialty cakes and cookies for friends and loved ones. She loves to blog about cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats on her Out of the Box Baking Blog. No matter what she’s cooking up—books, cakes, cookies, or mischief—she does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all.

Photograph © Hannah Busing, used with permission