Coffee From Heaven
I admit a weakness for coffee… Strong, black coffee. I love a hot cup of tea as well (though not as much as coffee!). Do you?
Driving to work or taking the kids to early sports games on the weekend is so much more delightful as I sip my coffee slowly, melting away the stress of traffic.
Or sitting down to tackle an admin task I’ve been putting off, I feel a sudden surge of motivation when I’m a few sips into my favourite brew.
There’s just something about both of those hot drinks that soothes and refreshes me.
Yep, that saying ‘A hug in a mug’ rings true for me!
As I was driving home from work this week, I was feeling really tired.
Like many women, I wear lots of hats and some weeks I’m just more depleted in energy reserves than others.
A few late nights, kid-interrupted nights and early starts had all taken their toll and my eyelids were drooping.
I was thinking that I’d love another coffee to wake me up- but realised it was too late to have another cup or the caffeine would keep me awake all night- when a thought struck me.
Jesus actually told us what to do when we are feeling weary!
He didn’t say “get a pick-me-up drink” when you’re tired.
In fact, He said…
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NIV
Since He promises to be the provider of all our needs…
Perhaps He would like to be my provider of energy and replenishment too?
YES! I’m sure He would…
He actually instructed me to come to Him first when I’m feeling weary and heavy burdened by life’s stresses and situations.
Do you ever find that the more you have to do, the more crazy life gets, the more you try to ‘do it on your own’ and forget to seek God’s peace and plan first?
I certainly am guilty of reacting out of stress, worry and tiredness at times, rather than going to Jesus to ask what His priorities are.
What’s the result when I get busy with life in my own strength?
A whirlwind of hustle and hurry that can forge a destructive path.
It tends to suck others into it too- my husband and kids, sometimes even extended family, colleagues and friends- as I get more frantic and less patient.
Instead, Jesus wants to hand me a massive mug of warming, ‘heavenly coffee’.
His hug in a mug that helps restore and refresh my spirit- and with less negative side effects!
In the message translation, Jesus invites us to receive the perfect thing to soothe our souls- not something that we don’t like or that is ‘ill-fitting’.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
He even encourages us to take a break with Him and get our lives back on track!
That sounds like the ultimate getaway to me!
So I declare that, while I still enjoy tea and coffee, I DO NOT and WILL NOT rely on their physical presence to receive refreshment for my mind, body and soul.
In fact, when I feel the urge to make or order a coffee, I will think of Jesus and his provision of grace and rest FIRST.
My God shall supply all my needs!
In this Matthew 11:28-30, He also invites me to walk alongside him and work WITH Him, implying that it’s at His pace.
If I slow down, I can watch how HE does it and learn from Him.
Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry to do anything, but trusted in His heavenly father’s timing and priorities (I’m thinking of how it took him days to get to Lazarus, to raise him from the dead!).
If I’m wanting to be more like Jesus, I should definitely slow down to gather His perspective on priorities, agenda, timing, acts of service in love and words of encouragement for others.
A few years ago, Jesus gave me a vision of himself sitting down at the kitchen table with me, for a cuppa and a chat.
In this vision, I had knocked on His ‘door’ and he’d invited me inside- like I was visiting my grandma or best friend- into the kitchen where we could sit down a new relax while we talked and caught up on things.
I want to keep that picture in my mind this coming week as I ‘visit’ Him and learn from Him how to ‘take a real rest’… Perhaps with a nice cup of coffee 🙂
