Psalm 23:2a Divine Nap Time
Psalm 23:2a “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” As we continue reflecting on Psalm 23, let’s explore what we can glean from this statement in verse 2.
Does rest come easily to you or do you find it difficult to make yourself sit still? These days, it certainly seems like disciplining ourselves to rest is a struggle. Even when the rare opportunity for rest is presented, many of us fight it, tooth and nail. We dismiss it out of fear that if we use our time to rest, we won’t have time to get other important things done, which will inevitably result in some disaster. We dismiss it because resting makes us feel uncomfortable, or like we must be lazy, selfish, or slacking on our responsibilities. We don’t want to rest because it can sometimes feel like weakness.
But not only is rest a physical need for your human body, it is an invitation to enter into God’s supernatural peace. It allows him to restore our tired mind and spirit. Without rest, you will inevitably become anxious, overwhelmed, stressed out, burnt out, less effective, and ultimately more of a burden than a blessing to those around you. Rest is an invitation to acknowledge our limitations as humans and to surrender our heavy burdens to the Lord. It’s an opportunity to allow God to be our partner and parent, letting him take care of us as well as our problems. Let’s not pass that up.
I love that this verse says “he makes me lie down…” Like a little kid who does not willingly elect to take a nap, we often need God to play the role of parent and tell us it’s time to rest, even when we’d rather ignore it. For you parents out there, you realize the chaos that results if your young child skips naptime. Rest is essential for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being!
Rest is a gift. Accept it; don’t fight it. Allow yourself to step away from the clamor of the outside world, enjoy the quiet, and turn your focus to the God who loves you more than you can imagine. He commands us to rest, and we can trust that he’s not going to allow our rest to result in something harmful. We can trust that he is a good shepherd.
Is your stress, anxiety, and life circumstances preventing you from really being able to fully receive rest? You may benefit from Christian counseling. To book a complimentary phone consult to see if the therapists at Clarity Christian Counseling are a good fit for you, complete the contact request form here.
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About the author: Kimberly Kruse is a licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of Clarity Christian Counseling located in Colorado Springs, CO. She is passionate about helping Christian women overcome their anxiety and step into greater emotional well-being. As a Jesus-lover, Kimberly loves having the opportunity to work with clients who desire to integrate their faith into their process of emotional health and healing. Read her other devotionals here.