“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” – Jeremiah 31:25, NIV

Slightly over two weeks ago, I had an assignment in a community that lives on top of a steep mountain.

Unfortunately, the car failed to scale the mountain midway and broke down.

We had to cover the rest of the distance on foot, ending up walking almost 15 KMs on a torturous terrain!

Frankly, I had taken ages without experiencing anything like that.

By late evening when I got back to where I was staying, the only thing I wanted was to refresh by taking a shower, drinking gallons of water and sleeping like a baby.

Our meditation today makes reference to God as the source of refreshing.

In the original language, the word for ‘refresh’ means to “cause to rest from labor’ or “to make cool.”

Indeed, the New International Version of the Bible sometimes uses the word ‘refresh’ in place of ‘restore.’

Something that refreshes is that which strengthens and nourishes the soul or the body after exertion or exhaustion.

Things such as water, oil, wine, and bread are all said to be ‘refreshments.’

Incidentally, all these are symbols of both the Holy Spirit and of our Lord Jesus Christ.

While preaching in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, Peter told the people who had gathered from all over the world: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

For those who are faint and weary, it implies that refreshing comes from turning to God and choosing to live your life with God.

Talking of ‘bread’ and ‘wine’ (symbolic of the Lord’s Supper/Holy Communion), these are a source of refreshing to the soul and the spirit in this hectic world.

Regardless of how tough the journey has been for you, our Father God is today inviting you to be refreshed through communion and fellowship with Him and with your brothers and sisters in the Lord

As we participate in the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrected life, we are being refreshed, nourished and empowered by the risen Christ through the Holy Spirit.

By His grace, God instituted the Holy Communion as a means of communicating His grace for continuous restoration and healing for His people.

Secondly and relatedly, believers do need refreshing from fellowship as they walk in the Christian life.

By His Providence and grace, God does place people along our path to be sources of refreshment.

I can confidently say that there are people in my life who get me refreshed even if by just a simple chat on WhatsApp.  

Spending an hour with them is absolutely relaxing and reinvigorating.  

The apostle Paul also had such people in his life.                                                

In 1 Corinthians 16:17-18, he wrote; “I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit, and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.”

In this scripture, Paul is saying that people who refresh others deserve special recognition, which implies that such people are a rare species.

More often than not, some people, sadly even in Church, have a way of habitually leaving others (including their pastors or spouses) completely drained rather than refreshed.

May God help us to change that state of affairs.

In Romans 15:32, the Bible says; “That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.”

That directly points to the mutually refreshing power of Christian fellowship.

Regardless of how tough the journey has been for you, our Father God is today inviting us to be refreshed through communion and fellowship with Him and with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Prayer:

Almighty God, thank you for the times of refreshing! Help me to continue being a source of refreshing for someone on this journey of faith. May those who are faint and weary be restored and refreshed today, for the glory of Your Name, Amen!