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:
- 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….)
- 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 Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.
Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.
