By Daniel Routh
Do you ever feel that God isn’t making life easy?
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters.”
This is a beautiful promise from Psalm 23. But how often does it feel like we are in a desert, or if there is water, it feels like waves in a storm?
When Jesus was here on earth, he also experienced both the desert and stormy waters.
One time, exhausted after a day of hard ministry, he fell asleep on a pillow in the back of a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. This being real life, a sudden storm came up and the boat was in serious danger.
But he slept on!
Now, on one hand, maybe you say, “he must have been truly exhausted!” And I’m sure that was true. But on the other hand, he had an absolute trust in his Father: “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you oh Lord make me dwell in safety.” Trust and peace go hand in hand.
He knew that his situation was fully in God’s control. In fact, when the disciples finally managed to wake him up, he looked at them, surrounded by lightning and waves, and said, “Where is your faith?”
And then, being God, he told the storm to “Be still.”
Just like he tells us to be still.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the earth.”
Be still, let go, cease striving—because you trust in God to take care of it.
“I will save you…because you trust in me, declares the Lord.” -Jeremiah 39:18
“You will keep those in perfect peace who trust in you.” -Isaiah 26:3
Let’s learn from Jesus.. When the waves become high, whisper, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Be still. The shepherd is able to give you green grass in a desert, and quiet the waters even in a storm.
Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for He is with us. We can be at peace, knowing at the end of life, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Until then, no matter what the situation looks like, trust in him to make us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters, and He will restore your soul.
