Our Oasis
- Cathrine Schmelzer
- Oct 30, 2024
- 2 min read
“He is our oasis; our safe place, our rest, our fresh water, our shelter from the environment around us, our constant, our help that stems from a source immovable, unchangeable.”
“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’m gentle, humble 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 11:28-30 (TPT)
This verse. It makes my soul breathe deep, right? Jesus paints a picture of the rest my soul cries out for and here in the Aramaic, the common language of Jesus, that rest is described as an ‘oasis.’ You know those places in the desert scenes with guys on camels? Well, Jesus uses them to paint a picture of where we belong. You see, an oasis is a fertile spot in a desert where life-giving water is found. They are known as areas of rest, safe places where a person can shelter from the scorching sun and life-sucking elements. The oasis itself doesn’t stop the arid desert conditions that lay all around, but in itself, it provides an environment starkly different from what is usual. In and of itself, it offers the only life-sustaining presence. And it will never dissipate or move because the oasis is birthed from a much bigger and deeper source than the environment could dry up. It is constant and sure.
Mom, that is Jesus. He is our oasis; our safe place, our rest, our fresh water, our shelter from the environment around us, our constant, our help that stems from a source immovable, unchangeable. And Jesus says, “COME.”
That’s all.
He doesn’t say unload your baggage first, clean yourself up, come to me only on your “good” days when you’re worthy of rest, when you’re not that thirsty. He says COME. Come, and lay down your heavy load under my protection. Come, and rest under the shelter of my kindness, be encouraged by my gentleness. Drink deep of my life-giving water.
But we have to GO. He won’t drag us out of the desert. He won’t force His water down your throat. Make the choice this week to purposefully rest in Jesus, be refreshed, drink deep, He is humble, easy to please, and what He requires of us is light.
Action Steps:
Jesus says, “COME.” Go to Him. Choose. Choose to make, find, or create the time to go to Jesus, exactly as you are, at that moment, and find rest in His oasis from the world.
Rest, and listen to “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United
Written by Brooke, mom of 3