Have you yourself, or someone that you know, ever felt weariness, depression, down-hearted, burdened with the cares of this world? Have you or someone that you may know experienced mental or emotional distress? Jesus Christ is the restorer and refresher of our souls. Are you familiar with the statement “keep your chin up,” or “hold your head up?”
Psalm 3:3 refers to the “lifter up of our heads”.
Psalm 3:3 [Amplified Bible]
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head.
Psalm 3:3 [CEB]
3 But you, Lord, are my shield!
You are my glory!
You are the one who restores me.
More often than not, those phrases are not just referring to the position[posture] of one’s physical body, but actually the position one’s inner-self, or soul [mind, will, emotions]. More often than not; we have to position; “posture” ourselves on the inside, more often than on the outside. How often do people say[profess] that they are doing “fine”, yet on the inside they actually “feel” broken down, defeated, an empty shell, or even as a “shattered soul”?
Jeremiah 31:25 [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition]
25 For I will [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I will replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.
Jeremiah 31:25 [Contemporary English Version]
25 Those who feel tired and worn out will find new life and energy,
Verse 3, in the 23rd Psalm [or the third verse of Psalm 23] is quite revealing when properly understood in fullest meaning.
Psalm 23:3 [CJB]
3 He restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
Psalm 23:3 [GW]
3 He renews my soul.
He guides me along the paths of righteousness
for the sake of his name.
Psalm 23:3 [Amplified Bible]
3 He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
In Hebrew, the word restore; implies the bringing back, the repairing, the putting back(together) of fractured or fragmented pieces of one’s soul.
When the western-minded hear a term such as “broken heart[ed]”, it is often thought of in someone having experienced a separation in a relationship. Yet, its true meaning and understanding are far deeper. For instance, have you heard of, or do you know a person who, after suffering a tragic event, or the unexpected death of someone with whom they had a close relationship, makes a comment such as, “a piece of me is missing”, and/or I will never be the same again?
That news was traumatic to them and caused a wound to their soul[mind, will, emotions], if left alone, will not heal on its own. People can adapt, adjust, cover up their wounds, but Jesus Christ, the living Word, is the true healer of “broken hearts”.
Psalm 147:3 [ESV]
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 [Amplified Bible]
3 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].
Psalm 147:3 [ISV]
3 He heals the brokenhearted,
binding up their injuries.
Many of us are very familiar with Jesus’ reading of the scroll in the temple as recorded in Luke chapter four, of the prophecy about himself in the book of Isaiah.
Luke 4:16-18 [NKJV]
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me [a]to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are [b]oppressed;
God restores, refreshes, replenishes, repairs
Psalm 51:12 – Restoration of Joy
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
1 Peter 5:10 – Restoration After Suffering
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Ruth 4:15 – Restoration in Family
“He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age…”
Job 42:10 – Restoration of Job’s Losses
“And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Whether it’s in a time of personal turmoil or distress; or during an opportunity for us to minister to others; Jesus Christ is able and willing to bind up our wounds, and breathe fresh life into one’s weary soul.
Matthew 11:28-30
Amplified Bible
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy [to bear] , and My burden is light.”
We can also, as a body of believers, help refresh one another, as Paul expressed in his prayerful petition to other believers requesting prayers be offered on his behalf, that he may also be refreshed together with his fellow believers as a result of their support.
Romans 15:30-32
Christian Standard Bible
30 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to[a] Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
Paul also, expressed his appreciation to Philemon for the support he provided to other believers.
Philemon 3-7
English Standard Version
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.[a] 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Amplified Bible
In 2 Timothy, Paul again expresses his heartfelt gratitude for the loving care and service of another faithful servant of the Lord, Onesiphorus, who attended to his needs while he was imprisoned in Rome. Interestingly, Onesiphorus’ name means bringing profit, useful, help-bringer.
2 Timothy 1:1
16 The Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and showed me kindness [comforting and reviving me like fresh air] and he was not ashamed of my chains [for Christ’s sake].
Additionally, the Apostle Paul encountered and endured many personal hardships fulfilling his ministry responsibilities; some of which are revealed in 2 Corinthians chapter 11. Paul most certainly was in need of refreshing, and restoration, as well as encouragement after facing such challenging circumstances.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
GOD’S WORD Translation
23 Are they Christ’s servants? It’s insane to say it, but I’m a far better one. I’ve done much more work, been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often.
24 Five times the Jewish leaders had me beaten with 39 lashes; 25 three times Roman officials had me beaten with clubs. Once, people tried to stone me to death; three times, I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a night and a day.
26 Because I’ve traveled a lot, I’ve faced dangers from raging rivers, from robbers, from my own people, and from other people. I’ve faced dangers in the city, in the open country, on the sea, and from believers who turned out to be false friends.
27 Because I’ve had to work so hard, I’ve often gone without sleep, been hungry and thirsty, and gone without food and without proper clothes during cold weather.
28 Besides these external matters, I have the daily pressure of my anxiety about all the churches.
When Jesus was personally tempted by the devil in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, He endured many trials and temptations. As a result, Jesus knows through His own personal experiences what it’s like to need personal assistance to be strengthened and refreshed.
Because of what Jesus endured, angels were sent to personally minister to him, providing whatever he needed in order for him to regain his physical strength, be refreshed, and encouraged in preparation for the ministry demands that would soon be upon his “shoulders”.
Matthew 4:10-12
Amplified Bible
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil left Him; and angels came and ministered to Him [bringing Him food and serving Him].
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus Christ Himself was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin; and Hebrews 2:18 reminds us
18 For since he himself has now been through suffering and temptation, he knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted, and he is wonderfully able to help us. (LB)
As a result of Jesus’ having overcome the attacks of the devil, may we ourselves learn to FULLY cast our cares[anxieties] upon Him, knowing that He cares about every aspect of our lives.
He is our burden bearer, and the restorer and refresher of our souls. Jesus knows what type of challenges and circumstances we face in this life, and He is able and willing to strengthen, refresh, restore, and encourage us during our times of need.
He is also able and willing to work in the hearts and lives of other faithful believers, that they, too, may provide encouragement to one another, and be a source of refreshment in times of need.
A REFRESHED soul is a vibrant soul, providing a source of healing to the physical body.
Proverbs 16:24
New Living Translation
24 Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
May our souls [mind, will, and emotions], and physical bodies be REFRESHED AND RESTORED in Jesus Christ’s mighty name.