Where do you find rest in your day to day life? Do you feel like you are always running from one thing to the next? Do you struggle to be present in the moment because you’re thinking about your to do list? Spending time in God’s Word and prayer is an opportunity to regularly be seeking still waters, or rest in Jesus Christ. When we can truly trust God with our wants, fears and relationships, then we can truly find rest in Him.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:1-2
I don’t know about you, but that sounds wonderful to me. In the original Hebrew this translates to beside waters of rest. The picture painted in these verses actually reminds me of the picture above. This is a place where my family and I used to camp regularly. When we were there, I would get up early just to walk along the creek with my dog. I used to love how beautiful, peaceful and calm it was in the morning. Once I even saw a hummingbird fly near us to drink from a flower. I believe God’s Word provides this same beauty and peace when we take the time to slow down, read it and apply it to our lives.
Self Examination
I decided to talk about this topic not because it is something I have mastered, but because it is something I am actively seeking for myself. I’ve shared before that my anxiety was crippling before I became a follower of Christ. It affected every part of my life. For personal reasons, I have never taken medication for anxiety or depression even though my doctors were willing to prescribe it.
After becoming a follower of Christ, the change was almost immediate. I was able to look at my struggles as an opportunity for God to grow me, and I found peace knowing He was in control. However, after visiting my doctor this past year for another health issue, she was quick to want to prescribe me antidepressants. She was convinced that my health issue had to do with my anxiety.
My first thoughts were, I don’t have anxiety. My life is pretty calm. What would I have anxiety about? However, it did make me think. I have no problems trusting God with the big stuff. Even when it’s difficult, I’m able to fight those desires and fears with the truth of Scripture. I then began to consider my day to day. I thought about how I struggle to be in the moment. Even during my prayer time and Bible reading, I have a tendency to think about what I need to do next. I worry about how I’ll get things done, get there on time, and what’s for dinner. My doctor’s concern reminded me that I need to be seeking still waters for my daily life through prayer and God’s Word.
I Shall Not Want
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3
Anxiety can come from a fear of not having enough. When my husband and I got married we both had a lot of debt. Financially things were always tight early on in our marriage and we worried about every unexpected bill that came in our mailbox. I remember thinking, life would be so much easier if we had this much money in the bank or if only we didn’t have this debt. Being on the other side of all that, I can tell you I still get anxious about having enough or losing what we have.
When I study God’s Word, I see His faithfulness not only to provide but to protect His people. For instance, God protected Abraham by allowing Lot to go to Sodom while he settled in Canaan. Sodom seemed like a more profitable land but was full of wicked men, and we all know how that turned out. If not, read Genesis 19. Scripture helps me to reflect on God’s faithfulness in my own life. When I look back on those early years of marriage, I can see how God abundantly provided. Sometimes I have no idea how we got through that season. I can also see where God kept us from heading in directions that would have been harmful to us and instead led us on paths that brought us closer to Him.
I Shall Not Fear
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Fear is what has always been my struggle. I know this started for me as a small child because I had a friend who used to tease me about it in elementary school. Also as a child, I used to make myself physically ill because of fear. The kind of fear I struggle with now is not like a fear of heights, which I also have. Instead, it’s this constant tension around things like, how will I get this done, did I make the right choice, did I say the right thing, am I doing enough or what if this happens?
When I study God’s Word, I realize the majority, if not all of my fears are invalid. I am convicted of my desire to control every situation instead of submitting to the One who is in control. Also, I realize that my fear is no excuse to not surrender to God’s will in my life. I feel blessed to say that God has called me to do things I would have never thought I could do, but He equipped me to do them. Imagine if I had allowed fear to keep me from those things. I know this is a battle with my flesh. While I would love for God to remove it, I know that He wants to use it to make me more dependent on Him. He wants me to battle it daily with prayer, repentance and the truth of His Word.
The Table is Prepared
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5
I’ve mentioned before that scrolling through the internet doesn’t help my anxiety. The words and behavior of unbelievers are definitely a source of discomfort for me. This is especially true when they speak of Jesus like He’s anything other than God and that following Him looks more like the world than His Word. I can’t help but desire swift justice and Jesus’ return in these situations, but I am reminded of 2 Peter 3:9:
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
When I study God’s Word, I realize that my future as well as the future of others is already determined. Some who feel like my enemies now will be seated at the table with me at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9). I can’t be responsible for others’ behavior. It is not helpful to listen to their lies when I know that my cup overflows. Instead I must fill my head with truth, proclaim truth to others, and pray God will use it to turn them to Him.
Dwell With The Lord
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6
I have decided to memorize Psalm 23 to remind myself to bring my struggles with wants, fears and relationships before God in prayer. This will help me to trust Him when my desires of the flesh creep in. It’s important that we dwell with the Lord by spending regular time in His Word and prayer. I truly don’t know how anyone gets through the day without it. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). Without it we are walking in darkness and tripping over stumps. I know only goodness and mercy will follow me all of the days of my life when I look to God for still waters.
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