Do You Need Refreshment or Renewal?

The Diner sat on one of my regular walking routes. I’d take one route to the restaurant and then another back to the office. This retreat found its place right about half-way through my route.

On occasion, I’d drop in for a vegetable plate. The service was quick and the food always good.

The Diner served two purposes on those walks. It provided a place of rest and refreshment, and at the same time, it offered nourishment, energy, and renewal for the trip back to the office.

The atmosphere did the same thing. I normally sat at the bar when I was by myself, which was always the case on a walk. The bar was quieter than the rest of the area. Most patrons were by themselves and there wasn’t a lot of conversation. I found it very relaxing. At the same time, I was close to the kitchen and the area the servers congregated. So, even though I relaxed on one side of the bar. Highly energetic activities took place within a couple of feet.

Let me ask you. What do you feel when you see a restaurant these days?

You may be at the place where all that is going on around you has caused you to need refreshment. You may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or even defeated. You might be at the point that you have a hard time resting.

Or, you may be feeling apathetic, listless, or even jaded. You need energy. You might feel like you’ve rested too much and you need renewal to get back into the game.

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There is hope for both in God.

Just as The Diner provided a place of refreshment and energy for me during a walk, God is that and more for our souls.

Remember how David described God’s refreshing in Psalm 23?

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. (Psalm 23:1-3, NIV)

God is refreshment for us. His spirit calms us and helps us cope with the agitation of the world. He wants us to rest in Him. He is our shepherd. He takes care of us. But knowing it is not enough. We must allow Him to “lead” us to those quiet waters.

Isaiah reminds us that God also provides energy when we need it.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  (Isaiah 40:29, NIV)

We don’t have to remain spiritually lethargic. And, like resting in Him, just knowing He is there for strength is not enough. We must put our hope in the LORD. Hope in this sense is not a feeling of uncertainty that He will provide, it is a confident expectation.

How are you feeling these days? Do you need refreshment or renewal? Or both? Leave a comment. We’d love to talk about it.

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.