When Others Are Pulling You Down
You can’t always control who you’re connected to—but you can choose the direction you pull.
I remember fishing at a place called Mirror Lake up in the Uintas and witnessing something I had never seen before.
All around the lake, people were fishing because it had just been stocked. Fish were jumping everywhere. People were catching them left and right.
Then suddenly… something strange happened.
A fish jumped out of the water—but didn’t come back down.
It just stayed there… suspended in midair… slowly twisting and turning.
At first, it felt like I was watching some kind of miracle.
Until I looked closer.
The fish had been hooked by two different fishermen at the same time—one on each side of the lake—and as they both reeled in, they pulled the fish right out of the water.
It wasn’t floating.
It was being pulled in two different directions.
When Life Feels Like That Fish
That might be rare in nature…
But it’s incredibly common in life.
How often do we feel like we’re being pulled in opposite directions?
A spouse pulling one way… your values pulling another
Friends pressuring you… while your conscience says no
Family expectations… but your heart is leading somewhere different
A relationship that’s holding you back… when you’re trying to move forward
The scriptures describe this as being “unequally yoked.”
What Does “Unequally Yoked” Really Mean?
In ancient times, a yoke connected two oxen together to pull a load.
If one was stronger, faster, or headed in a different direction…
They didn’t move forward.
They went in circles.
That’s what happens in life too.
When you’re unequally yoked with someone:
You feel stuck
You feel frustrated
You feel like you’re not progressing
So What Do You Do?
There are really only two options.
Option 1: Detach
Sometimes the answer is simple—even if it’s hard.
You create distance.
There may be times when:
You need to walk away from certain friendships
Let go of a dating relationship
Step away from an unhealthy environment
Even create space from family if needed
As taught in scripture:
“Be ye not unequally yoked together…” — 2 Corinthians 6:14
If someone is consistently pulling you down…
It may be time to unyoke.
But What If You Can’t Walk Away?
This is where it gets real.
Because sometimes…
It’s a spouse
It’s a child
It’s a parent
It’s someone you can’t just cut out of your life
So what do you do then?
The More Powerful Option
You decide:
Will I be the one who pulls up… or the one who gets pulled down?
That’s the question.
I had a friend who went through this.
His spouse stopped practicing their faith. He found himself alone at church with his kids.
Over time, he started to drift too.
Until someone said something that changed everything:
“You have to decide if you’re going to pull up… or be pulled down.”
From that moment on—he showed up.
He didn’t force anyone else.
He just chose his direction.
Detach Without Leaving
Here’s the key:
Even if you can’t detach from the person…
You can detach from their direction.
You are still in charge of:
Your choices
Your standards
Your path
You don’t have to stop moving forward just because someone else does.
The Only Yoke That Always Works
There’s only one person we should fully yoke ourselves to:
Jesus Christ.
“Come unto me… take my yoke upon you… for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28–30
When you’re connected to Him:
You’re never pulled backward
You’re never pulling alone
You always have strength to move forward
Anchoring Quote
“Act, and not be acted upon.” — Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 2:26)
Practical Reflection
Think about your life right now.
Where might you feel like you’re being pulled in two directions?
Is there someone influencing you in a way that’s pulling you down?
Or are you in a position where you need to be the one pulling up?
Be honest with yourself.
Clarity creates direction.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Identify one relationship or situation today where you feel tension.
Then decide:
👉 Do I need to create distance?
👉 Or do I need to stand stronger and keep pulling forward?
And most importantly…
👉 Am I yoked to Christ in this situation?
Closing
You won’t always get to choose who you’re connected to.
But you will always get to choose who you become.
So keep pulling forward.
Keep choosing what’s right.
And wherever you go…
Leave an impression for good.
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