Still Waters

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Psalm 23:2-3 (NKJV) He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

What is this saying to me?

The shepherd leads to still waters. Not rapids. Not waterfalls. Still water.Often God’s provision for us looks like more: more open doors, more opportunities, more output. And that is great, I love more. Most of us at one time or another has loved "more". More is exciting. More is...more!

But in this psalm it’s rest. It’s quiet. And there are some of us who can keep putting off or outright refusing that gift because some part of them feels like resting is falling behind. Or worse, like they should be doing more. But the psalm doesn’t say the shepherd leads me beside the productive waters or the impressive waters. It is still waters. That’s God's provision.

Honestly does your soul get restored in the noise? Or does it gets restored alongside still waters? In the connected world we live in, it can be exceedingly hard to disconnect long enough to experience those still waters, which is maybe a even larger sign that we really need it.

Our Great Shepherd loves us, and knows what we need. And His Word is telling us that we need still waters.

What is this saying to you?

• When was the last time you actually rested, not just stopped working out of exhaustion, but chose rest as something good?

• What’s the story you tell yourself about why you can’t slow down right now?

• Does your schedule have any room in it that isn’t already spoken for?

What are we going to do about it?

Schedule a legitimate rest this week, not a collapse, a chosen Sabbath, and protect it. And when the urge to fill that time with “one more thing” shows up (it will), say no.