Learning to Stay in the Seat
By Megan Conner
Bible Reading
“The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to 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.
Yea, 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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.” Ps. 23 (NKJV)
How many of us have heard this famous passage read aloud at funerals or observed it printed over a picturesque scene illustrating green pastures and still waters? The imagery conveyed channels what we consider the anticipated likeness of heaven. However, despite its common reference as soothing biblical poetry, this psalm was not written during a moment of serenity. It is believed David penned this poem while avoiding the pursuit of King Saul, who was attempting to capture and kill the warrior who once slayed Goliath. It is here, where David had left everything behind, when he had zero assurance of safety and had no idea where his next meal would come from, that he inscribed these timeless truths.
When faced with our own seasons of adversity, could we make these same bold declarations? Would we hammer our stake of faith in the ground and assert, “I shall not want?” There have been countless times in my own life when I have stared down apparent want and responded with the complete opposite. Pain and fear can stimulate such strong feelings of doubt and even resentment when we are faced with undesirable dilemmas. However, our gracious God understands human frailty and weakness. Rather than abandon us for our faithlessness, he takes our hand, guides us to places of gentle rest, and teaches us how we can trust in him.
If we study the Hebrew translation of Psalm 23, we can discover the entire passage is filled with action verbs. Anyone remember those early grammar lessons during our years of primary education? These parts of speech are often referred to as dynamic verbs and describe the action being performed in the sentence. This tranquil psalm does not outline a sedentary, passive response. Rather, our Lord actively leads us to places of much-needed sustenance and reprieve. He makes us lie down in green pastures. He leads us by still waters. Like a parent making their child go to bed because it is what is best for them, our Heavenly Father sometimes allows circumstances in our lives that drive us into quieter, restricted places of separation. While unwanted, it is here, in these spaces of solitude, that we learn how to receive from God.
Even further, the Lord invites us to remain seated at the table he prepares for us in the presence of our enemies. I don’t know about you, but when I am faced with deep worry or sadness, I struggle to eat. My nerves turn my stomach into knots. I lose my appetite. Not to mention my inability to sit still. Whether I am physically running around or spinning in circles mentally, when I feel threatened, I plot, plan, devise, and fight for my own provision and deliverance. I know I need to trust the Lord, but waiting patiently for it all to work out, especially when the results appear extremely delayed, is HARD. Have you ever found yourself feeling the same?
David comprehended God’s provision in a way I have misunderstood. He had absolute confidence that God would not only provide salvation but also sustenance. Even with the battle raging around him, and uncertainty before him, David knew how to stay in the seat and allow the Lord to meet his spiritual and physical needs. Could we learn this same dependence? While I am certainly not perfect, I have made significant progress surrendering my attempts to control outcomes. When the storms of this life start to swirl around, instead of rising up and striving for my own salvation, I remind myself to remain seated. The battle is not mine; it’s God’s (2 Chron. 20:15). I can follow the instructions of the psalmist. “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Ps. 27:14, NIV).
With these eternal truths in mind, the next time you are faced with unexpected adversity, remember you can stay in the seat. Your Divine Protector will provide you everything you need.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Reread Psalm 23 with the fresh perspective gained from today’s devotional. How has your understanding of this famous passage changed? Have you experienced times when you fought to control outcomes instead of resting and receiving from the Lord? Are you able to look back upon your life and discover moments when you could sense the Heavenly Father’s nearness in the restricted and quieter places of grief or hardship? How can you apply what we learned today the next time you are faced with an unwanted dilemma? How will you remind yourself to stay in the seat?
Further Reading:
2 Chronicles 20
Psalm 27
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/MixMedia
Connect with Megan on her website www.meganjconner.com
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