In the 23rd Psalm, David uses the example of shepherds and sheep to describe how God takes care of his children. Look at verse two:
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. (Psalm 23:2)
David knew from experience that shepherds have to provide food for the sheep because sheep aren’t capable of going out and foraging for themselves. When they have plenty of grass, sheep can walk several miles each day while grazing, but they can’t find the grass on their own.
David also knew that after doing all of that walking, sheep need to lay down and rest while they chew their cud. Sheep have four stomachs, and chewing cud is a necessary part of their digestive process. They need the nourishment of chewing their cud, but they won’t lie down to do so if they are tense or afraid. The sheep have to know there are no predators nearby. They have to trust their shepherd and relax.
Sheep also need to be led to water. Depending on the time of year and other factors, a sheep can drink up to three gallons of water a day. No thirsty sheep out in the middle of a pasture, however, is going to set out on his own to find clean water. The shepherd must take his sheep to it. Sheep never wonder if the shepherd will take them to pastures, or water, or a safe place to lie down. They just know that he will.
And the shepherd doesn’t condemn the sheep for being so needy. A good shepherd never says, “Look, I don’t have time for y’all to drink today. I have things to do. It’s way past time that you learned to find your water by yourself.” No, a good shepherd understands the needs of his sheep and makes sure they have everything they need at all times.
God, likewise, doesn’t condemn us for being so needy. He knows what each of us needs. And he provides. Every single time.
God knows that we need rest and nourishment, just like sheep. There are times when we need to get away from the busy-ness and pressures of life and just rest in God and his love. God says to us, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
I point out to God from time to time that I could do plenty of resting in his love if he would work it out so that I could spend all day every day on the beach. I could sit out there and rest and meditate about God all day. But since he hasn’t done that for me, I need to carve out time and space in the middle of all of my busy-ness to pause and draw nourishment from him.
One of the most important habits we can create is a time each day when we can take a deep breath, relax, get alone with God, and rest in his presence. Doing this doesn’t come naturally to us because we’re too busy and don’t think we have time. Plus, we would rather spend all of our time and energy solving our problems. We can’t possibly rest because we have to fight our battles.
The truth is that we do have time, and we can’t successfully fight our battles on our own anyway. God calls us to stop what we’re doing and “be still.” If you think you’re too busy to do this, remember that if Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. As pastor Alfred Lewis said years ago, “The adversary is quick to suggest that Christians are engaged in the Lord’s work while the awful fact is that they are too busy to pray.”
Don’t fall into that trap. Call time-out. Sit down every day and think about who God is and what he’s done for you. Read your Bible, spend time in prayer, not just asking for things but also telling God how incredible he is. Don’t let busy-ness keep you from doing this. Your Shepherd is leading you to the green pastures and the still waters. Enjoy your time there. Relax, take a few deep breaths, rest, and draw strength from him.
Maybe these words are meant for you today:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT)