Restoring My Soul
By Camille Gauthier, Chicago, USA
Scripture Readings
- Matthew 11:28-30
- Psalm 23
A few years ago, during a virtual midweek, we were asked to find an item in our house that demonstrated how we felt right then. Most people brought candles or lights, to show how happy they were to be meeting together. I didn’t share mine; I was embarrassed. Everyone else had chosen positive emotions. But I had grabbed a bottle of shower gel. I’d had the shower gel for several months, many weeks passed when it should have been empty. Every time I went to use it, I’d say to myself, “It’s definitely empty now.” Yet there would always be plenty enough for me to take a shower, and even more than that—sometimes more would spill out than I actually needed.
I had chosen that item from a negative place in my heart. I was thinking, “I’ve been so tired and drained and depressed and stressed lately. I barely even have enough strength in me to attend this midweek. I’m like this bottle of shower gel that keeps having to give even though I’m empty.”
But when I told a sister later what I had chosen that day, she led me to see it in a more positive way.
I saw constantly giving of myself as a negative thing. I was angry about spending energy I didn’t have. But in reality, it was a blessing from God. If it were up to me, I would have been holed up in my apartment not speaking to anyone except my cat and my roommates, not going anywhere except to work, and not serving my church family the way I needed to in our small congregation (in the state where I lived at the time). I would be that empty bottle. But instead, God was giving me all the energy I needed. I would be empty alone, but with God, my soul would continuously be refreshed. I could last for much longer with Him than I ever would without Him.
“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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
What a comforting scripture! How incredibly relieving to be told that we will be given rest! Isn’t it the best thing in the world to be told, “Just sit down and rest?” It’s nice to hear this from a person, so how much greater it is to be told by Jesus, who rules over all, that He will bring us rest?
He tells us to take His yoke—but this yoke is no burden. It’s much easier than the burden we put on ourselves when we try to go it alone! Think of when you’re carrying something heavy. At my job, I often lift packages up to 50 lbs. (about 22 kg). What if someone came to me and said, “Here, take my package instead.” And I’m given an envelope that weighs just a few ounces, or less than half a kilogram? I would be so relieved!
To receive true, deep refreshment for our souls, it takes letting go of relying on ourselves or looking to our situations to make us feel refreshed. For me, I have clinical anxiety, which makes it hard for me to find rest on my own. I can’t count the number of times I’ve reached out to God in prayer while experiencing moments of high anxiety and stress, and suddenly a huge wave of relief comes over me. At those times, it doesn’t make sense; it’s only God who has refreshed me and calmed me.
As we go through this holiday season, I want to encourage you, my sisters, to continue to look to God to refresh your soul. It’s easy to get wrapped up in end-of-year tasks, whether it’s at work, for church events, or making plans to spend time with family. We can feel like that empty bottle of shower gel that has nothing left. But if we seek God and let Him give us rest, we will receive refreshment for our very souls.
Questions for Reflection
- Thinking back to the empty bottle of shower gel, how have you seen God refresh you even when you’ve felt like you were completely emptied out?
- What does “soul refreshment” mean to you? What does it feel like? What does it look like when you are experiencing it?
- In Psalm 23:2, it says that the Lord “makes me lie down in green pastures” and “leads me beside quiet waters.” What are some ways that you have seen God’s hand leading you to rest and refreshment?
Today I will
Spend some time today allowing God to refresh and restore your soul. Read slowly through Psalm 23. Try reading it aloud to yourself several times. What words or phrases speak to you? Breathe deeply and let the words sink in. Ask God to open your eyes to see and feel the refreshment He is giving your soul today.
About the Author
Camille Gauthier grew up in the Chicago area and has lived in many places, but now is back home in Chicago. She was baptized as a teen in the Chicago Church in 2008. Camille holds a degree in Asian Languages and Literatures from the University of Minnesota. While a student, she spent a semester studying at Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea, where she worshipped with the Seoul Church of Christ. She speaks Korean and French and hopes to live abroad again someday. She begins graduate school in January, pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science.
18 Comments
Dec 6, 2023, 10:12:58 PM
BRENDA HARRIS - Camille, Thank you so much for being so real. This is hard for some of us to do but I praise God that at such a young age you have found what so many young people should long far. I am so very proud of the young lady you have become. My prayer for you is that you will continue walking on the path with Jesus.
Dec 6, 2023, 2:06:37 PM
Ebi Goin - "I would be empty alone, but with God, my soul would continuously be refreshed. I could last for much longer with Him than I ever would without Him". Thanks for sharing your experience.
Dec 5, 2023, 8:53:35 PM
Tally Green - Thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing with us your feelings. This was an awesome devotional! When I hear “He restores my soul, I am reminded of the comfort only God can provide. He listens to our cries and hears every word. I love you!!! Your cousin 🙏♥️
Dec 5, 2023, 1:49:51 PM
Tara Davis Watson - I'm so proud of you Camille. Thank you for sharing your heart. Your message was a validation to a lesson "Overcoming Stress" that Im leading on the prayerline this week with your grandma and some other sisters. God definitely delivered through you how to overcome stress, anxiety and deprssion.
Dec 5, 2023, 3:56:34 AM
Sapna - Thank you sis, I can relate this. Only Jesus can give rest to my soul. Love the Refreshing, comforting message.
Dec 5, 2023, 1:59:43 AM
Nico - Thanks for sharing! I really like the analogy of the shower gel. I love that Jesus will give us rest. Thanks again!
Dec 4, 2023, 7:28:40 PM
Terri Ricks - Thankful to you for life giving words that lead us back to our good God. I love, Camille. You make recoveries to know you, Sister! Rest…sounds good!
Dec 4, 2023, 12:44:43 PM
JoAnn (MeMeJo) - Camille, my beautiful granddaughter, I love you so much. You have become such a spiritual woman of God. Your sharing touches my heart so much. God is doing wonderful things to you and this is helping other. All the comments I have read, speak to my heart and how God loves us. Please continue on this path of righteousness and God is blessing you for all you do on your walk with Jesus. Love you!!
Dec 4, 2023, 10:52:46 AM
Fornessa Randal, 101 Church,Central Coast CA - Camille, thanks so much for sharing your truth! It is hard at times to be vulnerable with our truth when we are facing so many truths from others. I am reminded today that the restoration of my soul is daily not just once at baptism.
Dec 4, 2023, 10:36:20 AM
Jennifer Saries- Ann Arbor, MI - Thank you for the devotional! I needed to sit and read and write & breathe. I love that you lived in Seoul. Considered moving there at one point when I was single. Many blessings to you! I was born in Chicago also and love visiting family there often. Maybe we’ll see you at church some time!
Dec 4, 2023, 10:35:29 AM
Jessica Campbell - Thank you for what you wrote. I can reallg relate to feeling so anxious and then experiencing unexpected peace after praying. Even though the situation my be the same, my perspective has been changed during the prayer so I can manage so much better.
Dec 4, 2023, 9:06:50 AM
Tammy Fleming - Dear Camille, what a great piece you have written here! Thank you so much for your courageous honesty and for demonstrating real transforming faith. I am inspired by what you wrote, thank you so much. I'm reading a book at the moment by Walter Brueggemann (thanks to my sister-in-law who gifted it to me), called, "From Whom No Secrets are Hid," and I hear similar insights coming from your personal walk with God as those I am gleaning from this book: most often my times with God are me, bringing my distress to God because I've believed the world's lies of scarcity and I-am-never-enough; and then the God of generosity and abundance teaches me once again that I have been deceived by a great big lie. Thank you for this practical wisdom and guidance! You have ministered to me today.
Dec 4, 2023, 9:05:36 AM
Kelda Townsell - Camille! Thank you for your vulnerability, and for sharing this wonderful peace-giving devotional with us. I’m picturing Jesus lovingly whispering to me, “Just sit down and rest”. I love the passages of scriptures you shared. They provide such a great reminder that our loving Father cares about our rest - both physical and mental. And, if God cares about my rest, I should too! Thank you for the reminder to continue to look to Him for rest daily, and to allow God to give me rest. I’m so thankful for His promise that when we look to Him, we WILL find the rest and refreshment that our souls need. I saw God’s faithfulness to His promise already! I read your devotional at 5:30am, in a somewhat exhausted state, and by 8am God had miraculously provided an unexpected opportunity for me to rest! All praise for our Father’s compassion and His never ending faithfulness to us!🙌🏾❤️
Dec 4, 2023, 8:22:22 AM
Kristin Eastman - Thank you for directing us to read through Psalm 23 out loud several times. I saw new insights that were very comforting.
Dec 4, 2023, 8:22:11 AM
Julia Newton - Thank you for your analogy. It totally makes sense to me and all your feelings of feeling isolated in your anxiety at the time. Thank you for sharing and being so real. I have to remember how God blesses our messes, especially when we open up what is bottled up and share.
Dec 4, 2023, 5:54:13 AM
sandra Simmons - Thanks for your vulnerability, Camille. I find as a single mom I constantly need rest. What a great reminder that Jesus is the one providing it.
Dec 4, 2023, 5:14:53 AM
Pinky - Thankyou for this passage. I can relate to ur sharing. I have gone to God with a heavy heart complaining. At times while praying only tears comes out. But iam so thankful for fellowship. Meeting up with Gods people and sharing word of God in church.... gives me hope and peace in my heart. Amen
Dec 4, 2023, 1:47:08 AM
Sekai - Thank you Camille for reminding us that we get rest from our Lord. May the Lord keep us by the quiet waters during this festive season.