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Restfully Secure In Green Pastures
Brian Mashburn
February 12, 2012
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Restful Security
Lots of two-word pairs could be used to describe me these days. Fearful anxiety. Hurried panic. Sad desperation. Apathetic laziness. Stressed busyness. Inconvenienced irritability. Oversensitive reactivity.
But not restful security. Would that not be preferable?
The constant presence of restful security, or peace, in the heart of a person is only possible when the Lord is that person's shepherd.
David experienced this, at least some of the time. We know because he said, "He makes me lie down in green pastures."
See, when a sheep would lie down, it was a sign that she was feeling secure. It was a sign that she was feeling peace. So she would give herself permission to rest.
The problem is that a sheep will NOT lie down unless it is experiencing freedom from the fear of danger, the tension with other sheep, the aggravations of pests, and the pain of hunger.
Unfortunately, sheep can provide none of these freedoms on their own. They need a shepherd to do it. A shepherd who cares. A shepherd who will work hard and diligently on their behalf.
If you are willing, you have One.