Seaching for Rest While Weary

O. T. #1131  "Searching for Rest While Weary"
Jan. 11, 2018
Job 10
Then Jesus said, "Come unto me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."  Matthew 11:28-30 NLT


LET IT GLOW

Have you ever been weary? Well, who hasn't been weary? When it is a physical exhaustion, we get relief by resting and sleeping, but when it is a mental or emotional weariness, we do not easily rest from it. Scenes and words of pain keep going around and around in our mind. Pain gets deep and finds crevices to lodge in. After a while, when no one helps us find relief, we feel like we are in a barrel that drifted over Niagara Falls, bobby up and down, going no where, just existing. Job was searching for hope. Listen to him.

Having replied to Bildad, with a sign Job addresses God:

• Job is weary of life by now, disgusted with his life as it is.
• He is going to express his bitterness of soul and complain about it all.
• Job appeals to God for his innocence.
• Don't condemn me guilty, but let me know why You persecute me.

Weary has several meanings: having the patience exhausted, or the mind yielding to discouragement; to reduce or exhaust the physical strength of the body to tire to fatigue as; exhaust by fatigue; to subdue.

I would say that Job is exhausted in all ways by now. He is discouraged and subdued. Eliphaz left him cold, giving Job no answers for his situation. Bildad gave him neither comfort nor insight. He was left with no mediator. Job asks God questions and proclaims his own gloom, deep shadow and darkness.

Friends, please don't forsake this study now. I know it can be a downer for us, day after day reading of Job's awful situation and struggles. He will get some answers  and relief, so hang in there with us. If this lesson is not for us right now, the time may be ahead of us when we can apply what we learn from Job and to our own struggles.  If  not us, then  look around, we can find someone going through struggles and questions similar to Job. What encouragement can we provide for them, unlike Job's friends?

God binds up the brokenhearted. When your prayers haven't been answered yet; when you are down and out; when your heart is broken; keep walking by faith and praying. God hears, loves, sees all that is happening in your life.

LET IT GROW

Bildad frowns at Job and walks away. God remains silent. Job has no answers to his sufferings.

Swindoll gives us some lessons from this chapter:

• When misery breaks our spirit, philosophical words don't help us cope.
• When a mediator can't be found, futile searches won't give us hope.

People are in search of hope to go on, a way to make it through their maze of misery. You and I maybe that person to help them find the answers they are searching for. Are we available? Will we pray for and with them, cry with them, sit quietly and listen to them?

Dear ones, we have a Mediator who has the answers, who is available and will listen to everyone's story of pain. He is no philosopher, but He is our Redeemer! Jesus is His name. His mercy outweighs all misery. He is only a breath away. His love never fails, it never gives up, never runs out on me-Jesus' love.

LET IT GO

Let Jesus hold me in my misery, trial, troubles, desertion.
Come to Jesus to find rest for my weary soul.
Lay those heavy burdens down at His feet.