“I’m tired…”
How often do we say that little sentence? The other day someone said to me, “I can’t remember the last time I felt completely rested.” This utterly broke my heart because I thought to myself, “… me either”. A few days later, a friend asked me what made me feel rested, and I did not have an answer to her question. How do I find complete rest? Then I remembered a study I did on sheep and Psalm 23 about 2 years ago. At the time, it had little significance. But now, it gave me answers to my questions.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3a
I want to take a look at the statement, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
It is very difficult to make a sheep lay down. The only way a shepherd can make a sheep lay down in a green pasture is when they feel completely relaxed and comfortable. In order to get sheep to lie down, they must feel four things: free of all fear, free from torment by flies or parasites, free from friction with other sheep, and free from the feeling to need to find food and be free of hunger.
To feel completely free of all fear, sheep must know that they are safe from all predators. So that the sheep can feel safe, the shepherd would sleep in the opening of the gate so nothing could enter the field. Nothing reassures the sheep more than to see their shepherd in the field; their master and owner and protector there to put them at ease. In life, we can be overcome with fear of the future, fear of the “what ifs,” and fear of all those things that we can do nothing about. As a child of King Jesus, we can have reassurance in knowing that our Shepherd lies in the field with us and protects us from the predators outside the fence.
For the sheep to be free from torment by flies or parasites, the shepherd would have to diligently lookout for flies and would pour oil over their faces as a repellant. Sometimes, we are tormented by our thoughts. But the great news is that our Shepherd knows what we are thinking and is diligently looking out for us. We don’t have to let the enemy torment our thoughts because our Shepherd has already fought the battle with the enemy and won it. We just need to remember the truths of His Word.
An arrogant, cunning sheep will often feel the need to be the boss of a bunch of sheep, and this causes butting and thrusting at sheep who they feel are below them. A shepherd told a story of sheep that were in continuous conflict with each other and were constantly jealous. These sheep literally “butted heads” until the shepherd came into their view. At that moment, the sheep forgot their foolish rivalries. We, as human beings, are prideful and selfish, and this causes us to butt heads. We become exhausted from the constant comparison of who is living a bigger, better life. But when our eyes are on the master, they are not on those around us. The Shepherd brings peace and reminds us that a life of pride and comparison is not what we are called to.
To feel free from the feeling to need to find food and be free of hunger, the shepherd makes sure that the sheep are in a green pasture. Green pastures don’t happen by chance. They happen by labor and time and knowledge of the land and soil. The shepherd labored over the field to prepare for us a place to be fulfilled so that we can rest. The green pastures allow the sheep to not worry about where food will come from and be completely full. We can rest knowing that the Lord has gone before us to prepare for us a place that will completely fulfill all of our needs. And that not only will we be provided for then, but that in the preparation for the future green pasture of Heaven, He is providing for us in the green pasture we are currently living in. We don’t need to worry because the Lord provides for us.
Only the shepherd can provide release from these anxieties. Nothing reassures sheep more than to see their shepherd in the field; their master and owner, and protector put them at ease. So, how do we find rest? More sleep won’t leave you feeling completely rested. Lying on the couch more won’t leave you feeling completely rested. A buzz or a high won’t help you get enough rest. Only with our eyes on the Master can we find complete rest. In the presence of the Master, Protector, and Provider, we can find total peace.
Kristie Brothers
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#kristiebrothersblogs