HEARING GOD’S HEART ABOUT RESTING IN HIM
Have you noticed how the 23rd Psalm is one of the most often used passages of Scripture in funeral services to remind us of the comforting heart of God? Rightfully so. It is a beautiful passage with poetic depth and breath. But it also gives us a marvelous portrait of God as our “Watchful Shepherd,” which can be such great comfort in the midst of all the confusion and chaos we experience at every level of life. But there’s a problem . . .
Depending on our upbringing, the idea of God watching our every move may have been spoken to us as a threat with a “You better be good, or else!” kind of vibe. How sad. But I have great news for you. The verses in Psalm 23 clearly paint a “I’m watching so that I can protect you” vibe that is the exact opposite of the scowling supervisor image of God that so many people mistakenly have. No, my friend, He is our Watchful Shepherd . . .
He makes me lie down in green pastures. Why? Because we run ourselves ragged with crazy schedules, ridiculously long “do-lists,” and frenzied decisions we have to make in our fast paced, over-choice world. Plus, as one speaker put it: “Human beings are the only species that when they get lost, they run faster.” But these are the times when God whispers: “Come away, My son, My daughter. Let’s find a meadow to eat and rest a while. Ahhh….”
He leads me beside still waters. When our hearts and minds turn into boiling seas from life’s frequent storms, that is the time to let Him lead us to still waters, to still our souls, to better hear His guiding whispers. As the Lord says in another Psalm: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
He restores my soul. These quiet times above are when the Lord restores and heals our ravaged souls which are constantly under attack by so many angry and damaging remarks, accusations, arguments, betrayals, solicitations, seductions, and philosophies in our graceless world. These are the tragic consequences of selfish and sinful hearts that not only impact our lives, but the lives of those around us. Which is why we need a Savior.
He comforts me in valley shadows. Whether it is in the multiple valleys of our lifelong journey and even in the “valley of the shadow of death,” He is always with His own . . . right beside us . . . inside of us . . . to calm our fears and take us through to the other side of our struggles, and the other side of our transition from this temporary life on earth, to an eternal life in heaven, to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
With a Shepherd like that, I am totally good with being a lamb, always under His watchful eye and often nestled in His caring arms. I don’t need to know everything He’s doing or even understand His ways . . . because I am learning to trust Him . . . and learning to cherish being on a “need-to-know” basis so that I don’t have to carry all the extra weight. That’s not my job, anyway
