Streams in the Wilderness 10/14/2001
by Hudson Russell Davis
October 14
In Green Pastures
Fundamental to our peace of mind in this world is our understanding of who God is. He is our Father who is in heaven. He is the God who hears and who sees. He is the God who cares for you. So, when indeed you do cast your cares on Him, you can be certain He will not give you up. You can be certain your request for bread will not be answered with stones. You can be sure you will not receive a snake instead of fish. Fundamentally, He is a God who cares for His children. He is a God who, indeed, makes us to lie down in green pastures, and He is a Shepherd that will not forget His sheep.
To be sure He may, for a time, lead us through the desert, but understand, it is THROUGH the desert and TO green pastures. If you have taken up residence, here, in the dry desert, it was not because He said, "Lie down." Most likely it is because you are tired. I know tired. We all grow weary. Partly because of the struggle here and partly because — we are not yet home. It is a struggle to wrestle our rebellious hearts in line with the will of God. It is a struggle to believe that this green pasture is not simply a mirage. It is the skeptic in us, so used to disappointment that is just a little hesitant to stretch out in these green pastures and take a moment's rest. But He makes us to lie down, in GREEN pastures.
If you have not known the desert you may not have full appreciation for this "green pasture." You may in fact only see that it is overgrown and itches your skin. We are used to complaining and it is a hard habit to break. Even the Promised Land can look like the desert if we are apt to see it as such. But to be sure, where He makes you to lie down, the place He labors to prepare for you, will be — Green Pastures. This is not just any shepherd. The Lord is our Shepherd and so this is HIS green pasture. Now, lie down.
Exodus 3:7, Matthew 7:9, Matthew 7:10, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 12:3, 1Peter 5:7
Copyright(C)2001 Hudson Russell Davis
Originally published August 07, 2001.
