By Dr. Dianne Coflin, Co-Pastor, River of Life Church
Wow, what a year it has been!! We have been faced with many challenges: a contentious political season, unfortunately dividing people, and severe weather challenges.
Specifically for Florida and other states, with not one but two hurricanes that unfortunately affected so many. As a result, we’ve heard of such awful effects of this disaster, people have been traumatized, including loss of life, homes, and financial burdens, that many are still working through.
Someone who has experienced such trauma can feel a range of emotions both immediately and after an event, feeling overwhelmed, helpless, shocked and have difficulty processing their experiences. Trauma can have long-term effects on the person’s well-being, especially, if symptoms persist and do not decrease in severity. As a pastor, my heart is touched when people have been hurt. In my own life I’ve always found comfort in God’s Word and talking with someone who could help guide me through a difficult season with prayer.
Recently, someone shared with me the many problems they were facing. They were overwhelmed with feelings of despair. The many negative situations in their life burdened their heart and consumed their thoughts. As I spoke with them, I was reminded of the question Jesus asked the multitudes, “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to Me, I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways, and you’ll discover that I am gentle, humble, and easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me, for all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”
(Matthew 11:28-29 TPT) I hope you notice, Jesus simply said, “Come to me.” He knew that we would want to take control of our “out of control” lives by trying to “figure out” solutions to our problems. It is a simple request when He asks us to come to Him.
Jesus also reminded us that he is the one who will refresh us. In fact, he describes himself as an “oasis”. An oasis is a place of peace, safety, or happiness in times of trouble and difficulty. An oasis is often thought of as a well-watered fertile place in a desert land where you can find nourishment and rest. Those whose hearts are burdened down may feel like they are in a desert place, isolated, and hopeless but Jesus said he will provide for them that place of refreshing. He said, “Simply join your life with mine and learn my ways.” Why is that important? Because we may have to unlearn some habits and make some changes to how we are doing things. We have, most likely, grown familiar with feeling pressured, worrying, and allowing our thoughts to run wild bringing on us even more stress as we look for solutions to our problems.
What is it that Jesus wants us to learn? He tells us that his ways are gentle, and humble, and easy to please. He wants us to learn about his character. He is not a demanding God that requires us to follow some rigid formula to be freed from our burdens. Jesus wants us to discover how gentle and loving he is, and He is the one who can relieve us of our burdens as we learn to trust him. You see at no time did Jesus ever imply that He was the cause of stress or burden, in fact He wanted to relieve us. When we learn about Jesus, we develop a confidence in our relationship with him so however heavy the burden or deep the need we know he will relieve us when we come to him. He will exchange our burden for a place of refreshing and peace.
Did you know when your mind is at peace you’re positioned to hear from Him, and are able to discern His thoughts, His plans and His Way of doing things?
Maybe you need to begin that journey by coming to him today. Allow Jesus to relieve you of your care-filled thoughts and you will begin to experience a peace that will surpass your understanding. Why?
Because his promises are real and as trustworthy as he is. I encourage you today not to give up and don’t wait any longer for he is waiting on you to surrender your life to him knowing that he will be your oasis even in a desert place. Sometimes seasons take time to turn, and often we want everything to happen quickly and the way we want it to, but can I promise you this, your season will turn and His Help for you is on the way, when you trust Him.
I hope we are all looking forward to this upcoming season, when Thanksgiving gives us time to pause and give Him thanks. You may feel that you don’t have much to be thankful for, but you can start with thanking Him you are alive, and you’re relying on Him to begin to change the stressful situation you’ve been in. I will close with this awesome verse:
Isaiah 30:18 Amp “And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore, He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!”
Be blessed!
Pastor Dan Coflin and his wife Dianne co-pastor River of Life Church. They invite you to join them at 410 E Chapman Road Lutz, FL 33549. Services are at 10:30 am Sunday morning and 7:00 pm Wednesday nights with childcare provided. They are looking forward to meeting you! www.roltampa.org.
To read more articles from River of Life Church, click here. https://dunndealpublications.com/river-of-life-church-articles/