Sweet tea on a sunny day. Dipping toes in a cool creek on a hot afternoon. Crisp fall air. A beautiful melody. Watching children play. A meaningful conversation with
a friend. Reading the Psalms. All these things refresh me in different ways. The word
refresh means to reinvigorate, energize, or strengthen—all necessary for living a faithful and thriving life. Unfortunately, to experience refreshment, one must first encounter exhaustion and fatigue.
Some activities I do in solitude to refresh my soul. Others I enjoy in the company of others to experience refreshment.
We need both community and solitude to fully experience giving and receiving God’s refreshing love. It is essential to develop rhythms and routines in our lives to make it possible to serve the Lord faithfully and sustainably. We have a consistent need to be refreshed in our journey of following Jesus. In Exodus 23:12, we find rest mandated as part of the Sabbath. Paul described the Christian life as a race (2 Timothy 4:7).
Maintaining a pace and prolonged endurance are both important for running a race. Human bodies have specific needs such as water and nourishment for stamina and health. Likewise, in our spiritual journey, we need nourishment and renewal. Scripture alludes to refreshment and growth in Psalm 23:3 and Proverbs 11:25. Christians also derive nourishment by reading Scripture, meditating on it, and encouraging each other in love through words and prayer.
David pointed to God as his source of refreshment (Psalm 23:3), but Paul also described refreshment from other people (1 Corinthians 16:18). And, in 1 Samuel 16:23, David’s harp playing refreshed Saul. We also find examples of refreshment stemming from Jesus’ interactions with others, such as the “living water” he offered the woman at the well in John 4:10. At the heart of all these instances is a personal relationship, whether with God or with others. These relationships allow one person to speak to another and offer words or actions bringing healing and refreshment—sometimes physically, sometimes spiritually.
Discernment is needed when providing refreshment to others. In the Gospel of Luke, we find numerous examples of Jesus offering spiritual and physical healing. In every interaction, He was discerning in His approach. Addressing the physical and spiritual needs of others demonstrates God’s own concern for our spiritual and physical needs.
In Philemon, Paul described how Philemon had refreshed the hearts of the saints (verse 7). This short letter offers insight into how Christians might provide refreshment or relief to those from different social strata or those who have unique needs. Philemon, a slave owner, and Onesimus, his slave, came from different social positions. Philemon’s example illustrates how we, too, can be a refreshing aroma of Christ to those around us (2 Corinthians 2:15-17).
Paul wrote this epistle while imprisoned in Rome or Ephesus. He wrote to Philemon, who might have been a church leader in Colossae. Paul offered Philemon admonishment regarding his slave, Onesimus, who presumably had escaped, encountered Paul, and was later converted. However, because the book does not explicitly describe Onesimus as a runaway, we must acknowledge the possibility Philemon sent Onesimus to Paul for an intended purpose. In any case, Paul requested reconciliation between Philemon and Onesimus and sent Onesimus back to his master. Paul addressed Philemon as the slave owner, recognizing the power dynamics at play and Philemon’s responsibility for Onesimus, not only as a slave master, but also as a brother in Christ (Galatians 3:28). Paul could have written a
letter to Onesimus and encouraged him to return to
Philemon. Instead, he put the responsibility on Philemon, the slave owner in a position of power, urging him to accept Onesimus and treat him as more than a slave, to treat him as a brother. He had heard of Philemon’s love and faithfulness toward his brothers and sisters in Christ, and Paul commended him for the refreshment he brought to those around him.
We do not hear Onesimus’ voice in this letter. We don’t know if he asked Paul to write on his behalf, or if Onesimus was returning to Philemon against his will. However, we know Onesimus had a relationship with both Paul and Philemon, and we know the best interest of Onesimus (and ultimately Philemon) lies at the heart of this message. Paul made it clear he was interceding for Onesimus.
Paul expressed himself boldly in his request to Philemon, telling Philemon he was sending his very heart (verse 12). In verse 16, Paul asked Philemon to view Onesimus as a brother through the gospel lens of love. Philemon and Onesimus might have been in different social positions, but Paul urged Philemon to put aside those differences. In verse 20, the Apostle asked Philemon to continue to refresh Paul through the way he treated Onesimus.
In her book Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church, Diane Langberg observes: “In Zechariah 8:4-5, we read, ‘Old men and old women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem….and the city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.’
The most vulnerable—the elderly and the young—will be safe in the streets. God will restore a place of safety and laughter and blessing for all. No exceptions. Bearing God’s image means responding to ruin where we find it and pouring our blessing in that place to transform it.”
Yes, the Kingdom of God will refresh those who have suffered immeasurably, but as members of that Kingdom, we have the responsibility to refresh others ourselves, offering safety, joy, and blessing. When working with survivors of trauma, safety is a foundational part of the healing process. Many individuals lose their sense of safety after long-term trauma. Building a refuge of emotional and physical safety is crucial when interacting with trauma survivors. Diane Langberg reminds us of our role in bringing refreshment to those suffering or those who simply need encouragement.
I have been trained as a clinical social worker and work at a non-profit agency providing therapy and advocacy services to survivors of sexual assault. We are encouraged to practice self-care to mitigate burnout. I constantly examine my heart, asking how much I can give. I ponder, “Am I being refreshed so I can offer that same refreshment to my clients?”
Sometimes, I must remember the things that nourish my own soul and seek out ways to build those into my daily rhythm. This requires time and space to reflect on how my soul is doing. If I do not take intentional time to reflect, I risk losing sight of how I am both giving and receiving refreshment.
Because we do not have the same forms of slavery that existed in the Roman Empire, it can be challenging to relate to Paul’s intercession for Onesimus. However, we still face many modern forms of slavery, such as human trafficking. I spent four years in Bolivia working for an organization assisting women in the sex trade. We partnered with International Justice Mission (IJM) to bring these women freedom from sexual slavery. However, at times, I also experienced incredibly refreshing hospitality from the women I was helping through the work of IJM. The foundation of this relational refreshment was a shared desire to serve one another. They knew I was far from home and wanted to offer hospitality. I knew these women needed true freedom and God’s refreshing love.
Biblical refreshment, both for ourselves and for others, should be a part of our daily walk with Christ. As we consider Philemon as an example of how this refreshment looks, we must remember that, as Christians, we are also called to bring refreshment to the world. May we advocate for others, even those different from us. May we encourage our Christian brothers and sisters who crave refreshment. May we find new, deliberate, and creative ways to refresh everyone around us with God’s love.
About the Writer: Alicia Bunch Vargas is a licensed clinical social worker. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with friends and family. Find more resources: wnac.org.
