Feeling tired, unmotivated, without energy? The world around you is confusing, depressing and just makes you want to cry. Maybe its time for you to be refreshed by trusting in the Lord.
The word “refresh or refreshing” according to International Standard Bible Encyclopedia is “to take breath,” figurative “to be refreshed”. biblestudytools.com
Not a surprising definition but the “take a breath” is a good idea. Take a deep breath and be refreshed by the Lord.
Our key verse in this lesson is Jeremiah 17:7-8.
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Here are some questions to think about in this lesson.
What does it mean to be refreshed by trusting in the Lord?
When you don’t trust in the Lord, what does it look like?
What does the Bible say about being refreshed in the Lord?
How do you refresh yourself in the Lord?
What Does it Mean to be Refreshed by Trusting in the Lord?
Jeremiah 17:7-8
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament Copyright 2004 “those who trust in the Lord are blessed indeed. They need fear no circumstance in life. Again, the figure of a tree is used. The blessed are firmly “planted” where there is abundance of water. Growth and fruitfulness, therefore, are assured.”
This is a beautiful picture of how the Lord sustains His followers. Along a peaceful stream, we are planted so we can receive nourishment to work for the Lord, Our roots reach to the source which keeps us green with spiritual growth. Our growth produces the fruit of the Spirit.
We are refreshed as we go to the Lord in prayer, praising, thanking and confessing to Him. Then we can go to God’s Word which flows from the Holy Spirit to restore and comfort us.
When You Don’t Trust in the Lord, what does it look like?
Jeremiah 17:5-6
This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives."
This is straightforward. The Lord does not reward those who do not follow Him. But you say, “I know people who don’t know the Lord and their life is great”. You do not know what lies beyond their front door. The Lord has not blessed them, it has come from their own efforts. Remember, worldly gain will not last.
An example of this is found in Numbers 20:2-5.
"Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”
Because of Israel’s disobedience they roamed the wilderness for 40 years. Even in their suffering they were disobedient. I opt for God’s green pasture.
What Does the Bible Say about Being Refreshed by Trusting in the Lord?
Psalm 23:1-3
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
The image of a shepherd is used for the Lord because He is that image for His followers. David was a shepherd and understood how important that role is.
The shepherd provides a rich place of nourishment and fresh water. Not just a place to eat, but a resting place to refresh them.
It is also the duty of the shepherd to guide the sheep in the right direction to protect them. The Lord Jesus is all of that to His children.
2 Corinthians 4:16
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."
When we are hot, we reach for a cool, refreshing glass of water. It satisfies our thirst, for the moment. We are blessed with contiual renewal each day as we go to the Lord in prayer and read His Word.
Isaiah 40:31
"but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
A beautiful passage full of encouragement to those who trust in the Lord. My heart is uplifted as I read these words of God’s promise.
At this time, there’s a lot on my plate. I’m tired and weary of the world. Here is the elixir I need. My Father witll grant me the strength to carry on, replace my mindset with His courage and love.
Example of Paul Refreshed by Trusting in The Lord
2 Timothy 1:15-18
"You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus."
Paul has just been challenging Timothy to stand firm, to be unashamed, and to be willing to suffer with him for the gospel (1:8-14). Paul was imprisoned in Rome awaiting a death sentence, and the majority of believers in Asia, who previously supported him, deserted him, including two men named Phygelus and Hermogenes (v. 15).
We don’t know who these men were. What seems clear is that they were professing believers who deserted Paul and probably encouraged others to do so as well. Maybe, like Job’s friends, they declared that his sufferings proved that he was not right with God and probably not an apostle.
However, in the midst of Paul’s darkness was a bright light—a man named Onesiphorus. His name means “profit bearing” or “help bringer.” This man lived out his name. When Paul was deserted by others, Onesiphorus sought him out and refreshed him (v. 16). Bible.org.
Ways to Be Refreshed by Trusting in the Lord
- Find a quiet place alone.
- Ask the Lord to quiet your mind and remove distractions.
- Honor Him with praise.
- Thank Him for who He is and your blessings.
- Make sure there are no unconfessed sins.
- Unburden your heart about your circumstances.
- Pray for others.
- Read His Word and hear what He says to you.
- Grab hold of His hand and FLY!!
Conclusion
We are all busy, so busy we sometimes cannot think clearly. The Lord is right there with open arms to receive our burdens and relieve our stress.
We need to slow down where we can hear His compassionate voice flowing above the noise. Stop, take a minute in the confusion and let the Lord give you the gift of His peace and love.
Leave a Reply