Soul Rest for the Tired and WearySample

What You Want

Scripture: Psalm 23:1 AMP

I want peace. I want people to get along. I want to know that my kids will grow up safely. I want to reach lost people for Jesus. I want to have enough money so that I know my family is taken care of and so I can give to others. I want to see our land free and full of justice for all. I want a strong connection with my spouse and each of my family members.

What do you want?

I have to admit there are lots of things I want. At the same time, when my wants are blocked, I feel frustrated, discouraged, and even angry. It can be in moments like this when anxiety and stress heap on me. In these moments, the bills get larger and the bank account looks smaller. The loud voices of politics make the future look bleak and the present feel off-kilter. The opposition to Jesus seems big and it appears that He will never break through in my life.

Are you there right now? Maybe the force of all that is swirling around you is convincing you that things will not be okay, that you won’t be taken care of, or that you’ll be defeated.

Christ speaks different words. He stands between us and all we face. He stands over us and all we face. He stands with us and is in all we face. Psalm 23 illustrates to our hearts a greater provider: Jesus as a Shepherd.

The Shepherd feeds us.

The Shepherd guides us.

The Shepherd shields us. 

While we can’t stop looking at all that is coming at us, there is a better reality moving toward us. It is the Good Shepherd; He has all the food in His hands. He has all the wisdom at His disposal. He is all the protection we could possibly need. Christ is our greater reality.

Beyond this, He truly is all we want, and need. While it looks like we get it from out there, in the land where people fight and climb over each other for good things, this is not the case at all. Children of God need not subscribe to this mentality. For we know where our help comes from. We know what Christ has done. He died, was buried, and raised again. He is the master at bringing life to things that look dead and to places that need help. He is the ultimate Shepherd of our souls, our hearts, our households, and our families.  Indeed, we have all we need in Christ Jesus. This is the starting place of great contentment.

Contentment says, “I shall not want.” And, contentment gives way to the beginnings of rest

Where do you feel discontent? How can you, right now, verbally praise God for his past faithfulness? How can you thank Him for being the ultimate fulfillment of all you really need?