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  GOD'S REFRESHMENT
  by Charles E. Cowman
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Summary: God provides refreshment and care for His tired servants,
distinguishing between physical weariness and spiritual weakness.

Topics: "Spiritual Rest", "Gods Compassion"
Scripture References: Matthew 11:28

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DESCRIPTION
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Charles E. Cowman preaches on Elijah's exhaustion and depression under
the juniper tree, emphasizing the importance of caring for our physical
well-being while not confusing physical weariness with spiritual
weakness. He highlights God's compassion in recognizing when His
children are too tired to pray and encouraging them to rest in His care,
just like a mother cares for her child. Cowman reminds believers of
God's understanding and sympathy, urging them to trust in His love even
when they feel too exhausted to pray.

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CONTENT
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"The journey is too great for thee" (1 King 19:7).

And what did God do with His tired servant? Gave him something good to
eat, and put him to sleep. Elijah had done splendid work, and had run
alongside of the chariot in his excitement, and it had been too much for
his physical strength, and the reaction had come on, and he was
depressed. The physical needed to be cared for. What many people want is
sleep, and the physical ailment attended to. There are grand men and
women who get where Elijah was--under the juniper tree! and it comes
very soothingly to such to hear the words of the Master: "The journey is
too great for thee, and I am going to refresh you." Let us not confound
physical weariness with spiritual weakness.

"I'm too tired to trust and too tired to pray,

Said one, as the over-taxed strength gave way.

The one conscious thought by my mind possessed,

Is, oh, could I just drop it all and rest.

"Will God forgive me, do you suppose,

If I go right to sleep as a baby goes,

Without an asking if I may,

Without ever trying to trust and pray?

"Will God forgive you? why think, dear heart,

When language to you was an unknown art,

Did a mother deny you needed rest,

Or refuse to pillow your head on her breast?

"Did she let you want when you could not ask?

Did she set her child an unequal task?

Or did she cradle you in her arms,

And then guard your slumber against alarms?

"Ah, how quick was her mother love to see,

The unconscious yearnings of infancy.

When you've grown too tired to trust and pray,

When over-wrought nature has quite given way:

"Then just drop it all, and give up to rest,

As you used to do on a mother's breast,

He knows all about it--the dear Lord knows,

So just go to sleep as a baby goes;

"Without even asking if you may,

God knows when His child is too tired to pray.

He judges not solely by uttered prayer,

He knows when the yearnings of love are there.

"He knows you do pray, He knows you do trust,

And He knows, too, the limits' of poor weak dust.

Oh, the wonderful sympathy of Christ,

For His chosen ones in that midnight tryst,

"When He bade them sleep and take their rest,

While on Him the guilt of the whole world pressed--

You've given your life up to Him to keep,

Then don't be afraid to go right to sleep."

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/charles-e-cowman/gods-refreshment/
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