"What we must learn in his yoke, beyond acting with him, is to abandon outcomes to God, accepting what we do not have in ourselves-- in our own 'heart, soul, and mind, and strength'-- the wherewithal to make this come out right, whatever 'this' is. Even if we 'suffer according to the will of God', we simply 'entrust our souls to a faithful creator in doing what is right' (1 Peter 4:19). Now this is a major part of that meekness and lowliness of heart that we also learn his yoke. And what rest comes with it!

Humility is the framework within which all virtue lies. Angela of Folingno observed, 'Our Lord did not say: Learn of me to despise the world and live in poverty... but only this: Learn of me for I am gentle and lowly of heart.' And 'one of the signs by which a man may know he is in a state of grace is this-- that he is never puffed up.' Accordingly, we are to 'clothe [ourselves] with humility,' Peter said (peter 5:5), which certainly means loss of self sufficiency.

'God gives grace to the humble,' he continues. 'Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all of your anxiety upon Him, because he cares for you (v 5-7). Humility is a great secret of rest of soul because it does not presume or secure outcomes.

Here is a simply fact: We live in a world where, by God's appointment, 'the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to men of ability, for time and chance overtake them all' (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

The Lord 'does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of man' (Ps 147:10). He has a plan for your life that goes far beyond anything we can work out and secure by means of strong horses and good legs.

We simply have to rest in his life as he gives it to us. Knowledge, from Christ, that He is good and great enables us to cast outcomes on him. We find this knowledge in the yoke of Christ.

Resting in God, we can be free from all anxiety, which means deep soul rest. Whatever our circumstance, taught by Christ we are enabled to 'rest [be still] and wait patiently [or longingly] for him' (ps 37:7). We don't fret or get angry because others seem to be doing better than we are, even though they are less deserving than we."

-- Dallas Willard, "Renovation of the Heart," pp 209-210