by Samantha Thrash
Psalm 23:2 – He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Ezekiel 34:14 – I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
John 10:9 – I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Have you thought about how detailed God is and how He orders our lives even down to the “grazing fields”? In these seasons (as we like to call them), there’s always purpose and there’s always provision. He never leaves us nor withholds. He knows the conditions for which we need sustenance and direction.
If you research Psalm 23, you will find that Israeli shepherds do not lead their flocks to stereotypical lush pastures. There is, however, a wilderness in the Negev that was given the name “green pastures.” At first glance, you will wonder why sheep are eating what looks like rocks, but in reality, they are eating shoots of grass that grow through the crevices. There is just enough moisture from the Mediterranean sea and the small amount of rainfall each year that allows a sheep to find a mouth full of sustenance every few steps. Jesus provides in the same way. He supplies what we need for the day. If we trust Him to be faithful, we will never doubt Him for tomorrow.
The Lord also leads us near still waters. Here is where life, washing, cleansing, and peace are found. These waters are undisturbed yet surrounded by what seems like chaos or wilderness. God does not give a spirit of fear but that of power, love, and a sound mind! It was in the middle of storms that Jesus tested the disciples’ faith. Had they understood the peace He gives in the storm, their faith would have perfected. However, because of their hardness of heart, they missed an opportunity to know Him in new ways.
Don’t be in a rush to get out of the season in which you are. There are innumerable treasures to be discovered in the Spirit through what you are experiencing. God is not cold or harsh. He gives good gifts even in the darkest of times. It’s often when it’s darkest that we see Him most clearly. It’s often when it’s chaotic that He is speaking through the storm. It’s often when He seems silent that He is waiting for us to trust Him anyway.
Reflection
Do you live a busy or rushed life (even if it’s for the Kingdom)? Are you lacking peace and rest in your body or mind? Don’t forget that time is valuable, and it is a sacrifice. Even in living a busy life for the Lord, if we are not intentionally sitting at His feet to drink from His well and listen, we are left spiritually dehydrated, thus ineffective.
What do you need from the Lord? Is your trust or faith lacking? Has doubt crept in and taken residence in your heart? Take inventory of your emotions. Identify them. Confess them and seek forgiveness. Then move on and ask the Father. You are likely to find that His hands are not slack, nor is His heart troubled by your requests.
Redeemed Revisions 