SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 God Will Give You Everything You Need HOLLEY GERTH The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Psalm 23:1-3 The women sit in a circle around the table. Some are young moms who have just dropped their children off in the nursery. Others are retired grandmas transitioning to a new season. Every age and stage of life is represented. Together were getting ready to begin a weekly study. Before we start, the leader says, Lets go around the group and everyone share how theyre feeling this morning in one word. The universal answer: tired. That happened years ago, and yet I often think of the answer those women gave that morning. I remember it when I get together with a group of friends and we talk about our busy schedules. I recall it when looking at social media updates. I ponder it while watching TV when I see the hectic pace our world asks us to keep. We are tired. And when life brings challenges, the little bit of margin we may have is quickly taken up. We find ourselves weary and then wonder why its so hard to enjoy our lives. Although we love our independence, the truth is we need someone to watch out for us, to tenderly care for us, and make sure we get our rest. In other words, were like sheep in need of a shepherd. Without the care of a shepherd, sheep would soon get in trouble. If sheep followed other sheep, the flock would be worn out, in danger, and deprived of whats needed to survive. The same thing happens to us. When we let the world around us define our need for rest, we put our hearts at risk. The good news is we have a Good Shepherd. His Name is Jesus. He doesnt want to drive us so hard that we fall down from exhaustion. He doesnt want to force us to go through life without nourishment and refreshment. When we are exhausted and feel like were just doing what we have to do, He invites us to pause and rest. The Bible speaks of God as our Shepherd. And as I read Psalm 23, my tired heart longs for such tender care: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul (Psalm 23:1-3). A full schedule and an empty heart are a sure sign its time to stop and consider if Im following other sheep or finding the Shepherd. Usually, Im following the wrong lead and realize the need to draw closer to the Shepherd again. Hes promised I will lack nothing, and I discover that afresh each time I come close. Our Shepherd knows this about sheep: Theyre prone to stray. They dont even mean to much of the time. They get distracted by what looks good and can easily take a long walk that wears them out. If thats happened to you, its okay to ask the Shepherd to come get you and bring you home. Tell Him your heart is hungry and thirsty. Tell Him you need to lie down (yes, go take a nap!). Tell Him your soul needs to be restored. Youre not going to be in trouble. Shepherds understand sheep. Yours already knows where you are and what youve been through, and it brings Him joy to care for you. Lord, Im so grateful I belong to a good and faithful Shepherd like You. Thank You for watching over me and caring for all my needs. You understand me even better than I understand myself. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:13:17 +0000
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