A Weary World Rejoices
By Elin Henderson
“…a
word in season to him [or her] who is weary…”
Isaiah
50:4a (NKJV)
I can’t think of a better word to
describe our world today. People are weary. Weary of worry... weary of
hurting…weary of war…weary of hunger…weary of “keeping up with the Joneses.”
The church is not immune to this. Many pastors today are weary in their
pulpits, wondering, “Is my message getting through?” Laypeople likewise are
weary of being in this world but not of it, longing to make a difference but
wondering how. Sometimes we can grow weary in our Christian walks…we struggle
onward, keeping up appearances, but inwardly knowing that we aren’t where we would
like to be.
What do weary people need? Rest,
refreshment, relief, and how about some rejoicing?! “Behold I bring you good
tidings of great joy….” In the person of Jesus, born in a manger so long ago….
we can rejoice today in who HE is, and what HE has done for us. He is “the
shadow of a rock in a weary land”(Isaiah 32:2, NIV). When
life becomes dry and empty, He is our shade and protection! He is our “good
shepherd” (John 10:11) bringing our weary souls back into the fold of
His love and care. He is literally our rest: “This is the rests with which you
may cause the weary to rest…” (Isaiah 28:12, NIV). He “…neither faints nor is
weary.”
He is unstoppable.
What does He do for us? He “…satiates
the weary
soul” (Jeremiah 31:25, NIV). He alone satisfies us. He fills us up when we are
empty! He carries the heavy stuff for us: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from
Me…you will find rest for your souls”(Matthew11:28-29, NIV). He is our
powerhouse: “He gives power to the weak and to those who have no
might…” (Isaiah 40:29, NIV) He renews our strength: “they shall run and not be weary…walk
and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31, NIV).
Our world is weary…weary of striving
and weary of trying. May the message of who Christ is and what He has done (and
still does) for us bring rejoicing to our own hearts. May we in turn share this
good news of great joy with the weary world around us.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Can you think of anyone in
the Bible, or a friend who knows Christ, who experienced weariness? (Hint: look
in your Bible concordance at the back for biblical stories of David, Elijah,
Job….)
2. How did who HE was and what
HE did refresh them?
FURTHER READING:
Oakwood’s
missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as
church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to
fourteen-year-old Callie and twelve-year-old Elias.
