Psalms 23 : Lying down in Green Pastures

As the world receded into their homes to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, I was reminded how, like sheep, God is making us 'lie down in green pastures'. To lie down is to be in a state of rest and the green pastures represents our lush provision for both our spiritual and physical needs. If Jesus is to be our Bread of Life, then we need to be feeding from His Word, the Bible. Not just rushed appetisers, but delicious, heaped portions to savour and enjoy, that will leave us feeling full and satisfied. Only the correct portion of the right kind of food will be able to properly sustain and grow us.

It is interesting to note that sheep will only lie down if they are content and satisfied, without any worry or fear. Could this be why we may be finding it so hard to be at rest right now, especially within our homes, with the added demands of kids and increased pressures? You may be feeling anxious and fearful, unable to rest and just 'do nothing', or you may be trying to continue to work from home, pretending that everything is still normal. You may be pacing your floor with worry over an uncertain future and you may have become obsessed, like so many of us, with this virus, that has taken over every aspect of our lives. 

Today I want to challenge you to take a deep breath, knowing that this is all out of our control and the only control we have right now is how we choose to respond to it, and by staying home so we can stay safe, and finding rest for our soul. Whilst many are fighting to beat this disease, there are just as many people struggling with dis-ease, not knowing how to find the peace or the kind of rest that God wants to offer us. 

We can either choose to remain disgruntled or we can use this opportunity to right all the wrongs in our lives. By submitting to this need for isolation, and appreciating its objective, we can turn this difficult situation into a life-changing experience. If we change our perspective, we will see this time as a precious gift of rest, a time to recharge ourselves both spiritually and physically.

Are your meal times with God not leaving you full or nourished? If you are not feeling content to 'lie down', then perhaps your meals of feeding in His green pastures need some adjusting.

While it seems ironic that where once we were urged to stay positive, with the Coronavirus, that has become a negative, so instead, lets all remain optimistic and not lose hope. Our lives will eventually return to a new normal, and when it does, we can either be the same dis-eased person, or we can come out of this hibernation well fed well rested and content - the choice is yours...