Not long after Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden did sin begin wreaking havoc on the world. Genesis 5 recounts Adam’s genealogy and not two generations pass before a pattern begins to develop: “When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son, in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died” (vv. 3–5). As for Seth, he “lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died” (vv. 7–8). “All the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died” (v. 11). “All the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died” (v. 14). And so on.
But something happens as we continue reading. The pattern is interrupted when we come to the son of a man named Lamech. “When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son and called his name Noah, saying, ‘Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands’” (Genesis 5:28–29). Rather than simply giving the name of Lamech’s son and an account of the years he lived, nestled between one death and another, we find an explanation. And just as quickly as the pattern is broken, it’s picked up again as we read that “Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died” (v. 31).
When we find these kinds of abnormalities in Scripture, we have to ask, what’s going on here? The name Noah literally means “rest.” So why the added explanation?
What we’ll find, as we delve into our study of the Noahic covenant, is that this “explanation” is not really an explanation at all. What reads like an explanation is actually a declaration of hope, a look forward to a promise of rest and relief in the midst of a world full of toil and struggle.
This is how we’re first introduced to Noah, and what a way to make an entrance! In a world surrounded by death, Noah’s birth breaks through with a promise of something better, a promise that there will come an end to the struggle and the toil. Pain and death will not rule forever. Something’s coming, and it will bring us rest.
This is what the Noahic covenant invites us into: hope. And isn’t that exactly what we’re all looking for? No matter our circumstances, we could all use hope, because we, like Lamech—and Enosh and Seth and Adam— know what it’s like to live in a world ravaged by sin. Sin has separated us from God, too, and we feel it. Death is in our world, too, and it robs us of the ones we love. But there’s good news. Hope has broken through to remind us that there is one who is coming to bring us relief, and in him we will find our rest.
I feel weary in my friendships. I am trying to be 100% present in all of them and be there for them but it leaves me feeling so tired. My fear is if I’m not showing well, the friendship will crumble. I need to let go of holding it all together and surrender it to the Lord. I know He will lead me to focus on the friendships I am needing to pour into and give me rest in letting others purse friendships with me.
I worry over many things, and most of the time there is no need for the worry but I still do. I know to lift these worries and fears up to the Lord and occasionally I will. It is very relieving to have that type of break. It is during these times I find enjoyment in little things. But this is a habit I’m still learning.
I don’t feel like I have reason or even right to complain. I am very blessed. But God knows my heart and that even in my blessing, I do feel worn out in trying to figure out Gods future plans for me. I know He has more for me. I know I should be doing more, I just don’t know what. I get freaked out a little that I’m going to miss it or that people will see my life as lazy. But God is in control. He is way too powerful for me to mess up His plans. God, you see me. And you know my heart. I trust you.
I feel the exact same way!! Although I hate that you’re feeling this way, it is a great comfort to read back my own thoughts through your words.
I’ve felt weary and listless for the past couple of years. I attempted to start a life here with someone I loved. Unfortunately, that did not work out. I’ve been struggling trying to find my sanity and my way forward in this difficult season. I feel very lonely and cut off from family and community being away from home. I’ve tried to build a life elsewhere and I feel it’s just not working. However, I do feel God bringing clarity and vision back to my life. God, I’m so thankful for this and for you. Finding rest in this area would look like accepting the fact that I don’t have to have everything figured out. I can’t plan and control every aspect of my life. Thank goodness God does though. God, I know you’re at work in my life. I know you’re making a way for me. I feel it. Help me to just surrender the details to you. God, open the doors for me that you want me to walk through. Close doors that are done. Help me lean on you as a venture out into a new season. It won’t be perfect or easy but I have you God. You are enough. Please help me not miss what you have for me, help me see clearly. I love you so much God. I’m nothing without you. Amen <3
Yes, even as I am reading this, I feel weary and worn. Oh, the waiting. I tend to focus on the waiting instead of the hope. How can I shift my focus when I am feeling so worn and tired in my present? What will it take to shift my vision? Oh, to feel so relaxed in the stillness and the knowing hope. The immediacy, the enveloping darkness of the day surrounds my impatience in my present moment. Hope would feel like an extended and ever present vacation. I long to feel this hope of rest relationally, in my family and financially
HOPE: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
I definitely feel weary in the season I am in. I am a single mother to two teenagers and work full-time. It is exhausting to keep up with the events they are involved in (and each of them are only involved in one sport/activity each). I struggle with perfectionism, which I feel causes more weariness. I try so hard to be a good mother. I am learning that if I turn my children and my life over to GOD and let go of trying to control it, I will find rest. It sounds so simple, yet is so difficult to put into action.
Weariness. Same thing over and over, I try, I fail, I dream, it is unmet, I hope, unmet….so I try something new….and the pattern goes. I do long for the rest that comes from You and knowing I am where I am supposed to be and You always take care of me.
I am weary. Weary in the area of my marriage and spouse. I am weary that we are not on the same page. I am worn out from doing everything and not being heard when speaking. I want to find rest in this area with God. I want to find rest with my husband. I want us to reconnect and be present with each other. Then through prayer God will reconnect us through him.
I am feeling weary in many areas of my life. In addition to being a mother of an infant and 3-year-old, I face a lot of demands at my work. I serve the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people, and there is an increasing burden from the administration and the evolving healthcare system. I am told to serve more people a day with less time for each person.
I see my job as a platform to share the hope in and love of Jesus, but the job is now becoming more and more burdensome and the tasks are so voluminous that we have to work outside of working hours to get things done. There is little physical and mental rest…
I know that the rest I am looking for will not be found through changes at work. It will come from pursuing God’s presence as Jada says in the video. I am reminded of Matthew 11:28 where Jesus invites us “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Lord, when my circumstances seek to steal my joy and rest, please help me to choose to be still in your presence.
Absolutely weary.
Worn down and defeated. Listless and indecisive.
It would look like my husband finding healing in his mental health struggles and past trauma, so that those issues don’t trickle down and cause communication failures, arguments, misunderstandings, and hurt. It would look like me leaning into the Lord to be the only one that holds my joy, peace, and hope. Because He is the only one able and deserving of that trust.
It would look like us deciding whether we should continue to live 10+hours from our family, or if she should move home. It would look like allowing the Lord to dictate my desires, and not falling into anxiety and depression with the uncertainties all around me. And allowing Him to fill my heart with peace and comfort, whichever direction and location we step out into.
In the end, no matter where I’m weary and worn, it looks like saying, Lord, you are the only source of rest and hope. You are the only one I should be trusting in to follow through on providing that. So, here is this junk. Sort it, strengthen and straighten out me and my path. I trust and hope in You alone.