Peaceful Safe Haven for the Weary
Jesus has invited us to come unto Him when we are weary and heavy laden and He will give you rest. Jesus found peace and safety in the home of Mary and Martha. We need to find peace, safety and strength in the arms of Jesus in this chaotic world.
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus found peace and safety in the home of Mary and Martha. Weary with the discussions of Jerusalem, which He had been visiting at a Feast, Jesus, who had no love for cities, escaped to Bethany for rest. Whereupon we see the kindly Martha showing her affection in much serving, impatient with her sister because she thought she neglected the offices of a genial hospitality. We see the pensive and spiritual Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening intently at every word that Jesus spoke. (Hastings, 1915 pp 319-69).
The home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus would probably have been at least three rooms constructed around a courtyard in the shape of a “C” with an open court between the rooms. The courtyard would be a rectangular wall to give privacy. The courtyard would have been used as a place for entertaining guests such as Jesus and the disciples. Their home was probably a two story with a wood balcony and staircase leading from the courtyard. A living room could be furnished with furniture like lampstands, chairs, benches, and stools. The cooking would have been done over an open hearth located in the outer courts where there would be a cisterns or water storage in jars. (Tenney, 1977 pgs. 217-220).
Martha might have prepared a mean of boiled or roasted beef or mutton along with cheese, bread, olives, oil, buttermilk and fruits and vegetables. It would require a large amount of preparation to prepare a feast. Meals were served while the gusts would recline around three sides of a low table, sometimes on couches with each guest leaning on his left arm with a pillow behind the lower body stretched out. (Wright, 1953 pgs. 35-68).
Preparations for guests in our day would not be as difficult. We have the use of ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, and even takeout food that is only a few miles away. We certainly have a better chance of providing a peaceful safe haven for those who are weary, like Jesus, better than what Martha and Mary had. The problem comes with the word peaceful. It is difficult to find a peaceful home in this society.
What does it take to have a peaceful safe haven for those who are weary or going through a life crisis? A safe haven where one can explore what it is they are going through and feel that they are understood and cared for. A place they can make decisions that will help then on their life journey. A safe haven needs to provide a safe, protected and sheltered place that is comfortable free from chaos and a place where a person can rest, contemplate and get out of the storms of life.
Our world today we have chaos everywhere we turn from sun up to sun down. We have become a society of hustle and bustle. Our lives have become louder and faster pace. Having a home free from chaos and a peaceful place where guests can catch their breaths from the hub bub of this world is more important than any other time in history.
Providing a peaceful safe haven where relationships can thrive, spirits can flourish and weary bones can become refreshed is not easy task to accomplish. It does require a flexible routine in the home routine leaving room for those unexpected happenings. This does take lots of planning time for meals, house hold chores, and outings of any kind from children to families and friends.
A clean house helps to avoid chaos; the environment of the house plays an enormous part in the family’s mental state as well as your own. Make sure you have provisions for quiet time. You need to make the decision to have a stress free, peaceful home that can provide a safe haven from the outside world. Your home should be a haven on earth for those you love and those who are in need.
The best peace we can have is the peace that passes all understanding John 14:26-27 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” This peace comes from the LORD God and is not merely a psychological state of mind, but an inner tranquility based on peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1).
Philippians 4:7-9 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
This peace is the inner calmness promised to the believer who has a thankful attitude based on unwavering confidence that the LORD God is able and willing to do what is best for them. Their trust in Him brings about a peace that transcends human intellect, and human analysis. This peace guards the believer from anxiety, fear, and worry because of their trust in Him but it takes a quiet safe haven to reach the pray-full state of hearing Christ as He speak to you.
It is imperative to finding a peaceful safe haven where one can find concentrate on the Word of God and feel safe. Psalm 46:10 reminds us; “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Mother Teresa said “Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart.” (Mother Teresa, 1997). It is important to be silence or be still so you can hear the LORD speaking to you.
“We cannot find God in noise and agitation. Nature: trees, flowers, and grass grow in silence. The stars, the moon, and the sun move in silence. What is essential is not what we say but what God tells us and what He tells others through us. In silence He listens to us; in silence He speaks to our souls. In silence we are granted the privilege of listening to His voice.
Silence of our eyes.
Silence of our ears.
Silence of our mouths.
Silence of our minds.
…in the silence of the heart
God will speak. Silence of the heart is necessary so you can hear God everywhere – in the closing of the door, in the person who needs you, in the birds that sing, in the flowers, in the animals. (Mother Teresa, 2002 pp 9-10).
Far too often it is chaos in our lives that makes us weary, tired, and exhausted with toil or burdens or grief. The starting point to gain the peace from the Lord is to acknowledge there is chaos and possible identify where it is coming from. It is common that we create the chaos in our lives by taking on more than any one person can take on. Trying to be the best parent, trying to impress the people in our lives, and just plain putting unrealistic expectation for our lives. Then when that chaos is taking over our existence we do not take proprietorship over it. Relaxation and enjoyment of family and friends goes out the window and you are left weary.
Sometimes it helps to write down the activities that are going on around you when you feel weary. You need to ask yourself if there are activities that are under your control that are controlling you and you not controlling it. How can you control those periods of chaos? If you find the mornings are exhausting you then could stop it and have a cup of coffee. Stopping it is the key to conquering it.
You are the one who has to make the decision to make a choice to stop the chaos. Once that decision has been made then you have to make a change. You have to be the one to take control over the chaos. You cannot allow chaos to control you. You cannot get an inner peace in chaos. I know this sound easy to write about but the fact is chaos just does not go away by itself. You probably have many different areas of chaos in your life that needs to be conquered.
Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights He had to be hungry and weary. That is when satan took advantage of Him and tempted Jesus. (Matthew 4:2). Whenever we have any kind of a weakness, especially when we are weary, that is the time when you can expect attacks from satan. It is in these times you must make sure you eat, rest, and pray no matter what is going on around you.
Jesus rested by Jacob’s well in Samaria when He was wearied with His journey. Jesus rested to recuperate from His weariness and get refreshed with water from the well. (John 4:6). Just as it is possible to get weary physically, it is equally possible to get weary spiritually. Just like Jesus needed to rest and be refreshed so do you. Take time to rest and get refreshed so you can become spiritually strong. Jesus told the woman at the well that Jesus answered and said unto her, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14).
When we become weary, no matter the reason, we owe it to our self to find that safe haven so we can get rest and refreshed so we can make the decisions and face the tribulations that are happening in our lives. All our strength, comfort, peace and hope come from Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Know whenever you are brought down, even weary know that you can do all things through Christ which strengthens us all. (Philippians 4:13).
Jesus has invited us to come unto Him when we are weary and heavy laden and He will give you rest. Jesus also says to learn of Him, and you shall find rest upon your souls. The yoke meaning commands or laws of Christ must be submitted to, even though they are easy to be kept. Jesus also tells us His burden is light. This means that the obligations that Jesus lays upon us, His followers, or the responsibilities, commitments, or requirements are light. (Matthew 11:28-30).
References:
Hastings, James. (1915). The Greater Men and Women of the Bible: Mary–Simon, ed. Edinburg: T&T Clark. pp 319-69.
Mother Teresa & Benenate, Becky, Durepos, Joseph. (2002). No Greater love. Novato, California; New World Library. 9-10
Mother Teresa & Jose Luis Gonzalez-Balado (1997). Mother Teresa – In My Own Words. Liguori Publications.
Tenney, M. C. (1977). The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia vol.3. Grand Rapids, Zondervan. pgs. 217-220.
Wright, F.H. (1953). Manners and Customs of Bible Lands. Chicago, Moody Press/Moody Bible Institute. pgs. 35-68.
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MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Peaceful Safe Haven for the Weary:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Dec 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1822,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, December) “Peaceful Safe Haven for the Weary:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1822,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “Peaceful Safe Haven for the Weary:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (December), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1822, (accessed).
