Nougat 17

When Life happens and nothing seems to be about right, what do we do? Today’s Holy Nougat offers a promise-solution.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Rest.

It is a four-letter word. And some days it actually feels like one of those 4-letter words that ought not be used in decent company. For sure, there are times when Rest seems reserved for a specific set of people, not including us. Because Rest is not only physical; it’s about emotional well being also.

This promise is dedicated to the ones who see Rest as a bad 4-letter word as it is not available to them. Going back to the Greek, we note that the promise is offered to everyone who toils to the point of extreme exhaustion – mentally and physically – as well as all those who are weighted down perhaps to the extreme of immobility. I know several of us have been there and some of us are still there literally and figuratively.

To those who need a new lease on life, Jesus promises Rest. And the Greek tells us that the Rest offered includes a pause for

Refreshment

Renewal

Revival

Refreshment

Because of how it’s used in our time, I often think of Refreshment as food and drink provided at a gathering. If we break it in syllables however, we can see a slightly different tone to it. ‘Re’ is most often used as a prefix to indicate ‘once again’. Fresh suggests unspoiled or filled with vitality. And ‘ment’ as a suffix speaks to an action, product of, or resulting state. Re-fresh-ment is those the act of being unspoiled or vitalists again; or the result after freshness occurs. In either case, what God offers to us sounds much like the Pauline promise to those whose trust is in Christ ‘old things are passed away’ and we become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Renewal

Our postmodern world suggests that everything has an expiration date – even water. Especially if the thing is bought in the supermarket. The label has to clearly state the expiration. Sometimes we purchase goods before the sell by date and shortly after opening; there’s no doubt that it’s expired. It may not have been correctly stored or properly used, but as the case may be; it’s not fit for consumption.

Ironically the same thing happens to appliances and furniture, it’s not just perishables. And sometimes it’s a manufacturer’s defect, but there are times when we failed to follow the instructions provided. Although we live in a throwaway world, some of us seek repairs to the broken items or reuse them in some way. I believe us humans also have those moments when we’re overworked, stressed, or even overwhelmed. And, it is in such moments that Jesus offers to make us new again. To bring us back to what we’re meant to be. Past the debilitating issues that makes us feel we’ve passed our ‘sell by’ date. Past tense to the stress and burdens of our time and hopefully, into the future of Jesus’ Rest.

Revival

That Rest doesn’t have to be threatening to us; for it isn’t always eternal and permanently without life as we know it. In those cases, revival – bringing back to life is what is needed. Revival most often has nothing to do with the life under threat in terms of the act of reviving itself. It’s usually the result of another’s intervention.

There are times when Jesus brings us back to life; literally. When we lose our joy, we often get weighted down (ie depressed) and only it is only God’s grace that can pull us back, whether by meds or ‘miracle’. We also may be burdened with bills, marital issues, abuse etc. While revival may not equal return to the same mess; Jesus offers us grace and strength to overcome which sometimes includes walking away.

Jesus’ promises of Rest for the burdened and weighted gown has only one clause: we must go to Him. Like the sick and interceding of His day; it is incumbent on us to recognize that we need help and can find rest in Him.

So, what do we do when Life happens? We find our way back to the One Who is able to keep us and present us faultless. Tired, burdened or weighted down? Time to find our Rest (Rely, Embrace, Seek Sustenance, and Trust) in Jesus.

Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ