He Makes Me Lie Down

We live in a stress filled world. Either created by our own actions, or by actions thrust upon us.

We live in a world of terror, shootings, and riots. A world partially at war.

And at times when I’ve laid down to sleep, peace was far from me.

In Psalm 23, the writer, King David, prophesies to the world, for all time, the truth of our God, of the Creator.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures.” This speaks of rest and peace, of spring and summer, of things in bloom and bearing fruit.

We are sometimes fooled into believing that the harder we work the more prosperous we become. Granted, laziness doesn’t bear us any fruit, but stress and striving don’t either.

The Lord promises us peace, rest, a settled heart. He can actually bless us in our rest.

But it’s not just physical rest, it’s mental, emotional and spiritual.

“He leads me besides quiet waters.”

Can you envision a country stream? Can you hear the birds singing? The wind slipping the trees?

This is where we’re all called to be in Christ.

This is where, how and when He restores our souls.

In Luke 10, Jesus admonishes His friend Martha, who was complaining about her little sister Mary of not helping out enough. Instead, she sat at the feet of Jesus.

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Choosing Jesus will never let us down or betray us.

He admonishes Martha for her fretting and worry, then points to Mary who was resting at Jesus feet.

It’s not the work vs. sitting debate. It’s the worry vs. peace debate.

We choose to be “Mary’s” and not “Martha’s.”

But it’s so easy to go along with the emotions of the moment.

We have to wage war to fight the things in our lives, the thoughts and feelings that destroy peace.

Jesus is the green pasture, the still waters, the restorer of our souls.

There was a time in my life when anxiety moved in. It was hormonally inspired — don’t you just love it? — but on the surface everything looked to be fine. No medical test proved anything out of the ordinary.

My job required a good deal of traveling and getting on an airplane, or being alone somewhere, proved to be challenging. I’d get claustrophobic on the plane when they’d shut the door for take off. I feared I’d run down the fuselage yelling, “Let me off!”

Sometimes I’d get the alone in a crowd feeling. Among a myriad of other feelings or thoughts. I could make a scary list.

But, they all passed after a few seconds but the dread of them coming again was worse than the actual event.

In the tense moments, I’d lean into my Green Pasture. My Quiet Water. My Restorer. My Savior. My Deliver.

He’s the Prince of Peace. And He loves me.

As I believed what He said about me, about Himself, the moments became smaller and fewer between.

They never owned me. Or controlled me.

Just made life a little scary sometimes.

The battle was in my mind. I had to choose to believe what I was feeling or what God’s Word said.

I’m glad I chose His Word.

Those tense moments in the past were never given enough strength to lay hold. Thanks to His truth.

Whatever your life situation, know that the Lord is with you, for you and has probably, somewhere in the vastness of Scripture, has spoken to the issue on your heart!

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