Green Pastures
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:2-3a
I’m grounded. Well, maybe not grounded. But I am hanging out in green pastures. I pinched a nerve or something and my knee and foot decided to swell way up. So, I have been icing and elevating, moving slowly and asking for help.
I knew in September I needed rest. God has given me a season to focus on being home and giving my attention to getting into the Bible and homeschooling/taking care of my family. I have been trying to give it that attention. But this week I have reached a new *level of rest*.
When I rest the pain is so very mild. If I am up and around to much I swell up and the pain escalates. Okay, I get the message!!
With my rest I can read my Bible, pray, listen to online sermons, and read those awesome books I got for Christmas, and just generally reflect. And can I just confess that with the unhurried time, I am a more pleasant person more minutes of the day than I might be when I am rushing around?
God is always in control. If Jesus is your Savior, nothing is wasted. He is your good Shepherd and has a reason for everything. He can bring good out of everything even things others meant for evil. Letting him be the Shepherd and accepting the fact I am a sheep is so freeing, so stress free. Cling to the Shepherd. He knows when you need quiet waters. Don’t resist. Trust me, I’ve done that too and it only causes more exhaustion. When the Shepherd decides you need to rest you can obey the quiet voice or the not so quiet voice (that usually leaves you flat on your back with the only direction possible for looking being *UP*!) This is not to say that I refrain from praying for healing. I surely do pray. I know everything is possible with God. It just means that I submit to the answer, even when it is “no” or “not right now.”
“Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.” Psalm 112:6-8
