". . .He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul"
Psalm 23:2b,3
Learning to live with chronic pain an illness, in itself, is an emotional and physical journey through life that often leave a person feeling battered . Like boat sailing on a rough and turbulent sea, the waves of pain can be over whelming, making us feel like our boat is going to capsize. The waves of misery that begin to plague us each and every waking hour, as well as plague our nightly rest, begin to take over our lives living us feeling lost and feeling like we are in a dark raging storm, with no signs of quiet waters ahead.
Beside quiet waters . . .
In the midst of all the changes in my life and choices I have had to make in dealing with my own battle with chronic pain and illness, I have felt at times like I was on a stormy sea, with no quite and calm waters a head. Then I would remind myself by the many blessings that God has brought into my life; My loving husband, my two wonderful children , my four beautiful grandchildren, and all of a sudden my world does not seem so dark any more. Then I am reminded what happens to me when I forget that He is my Lord and the Shepard of my life, and in Him I can find a resting place.
In Hebrew the quiet waters means a quiet resting place. We all want an oasis away from the murky and troubled waters of life that seem to drown us at times. Pure water has a soothing and refreshing effect on us. Our Shepard leads us to the main well of living water from which flow gentle tributaries of peace, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Jesus also asks us to draw deep from the well of His living water, and not with just a paltry cup or broken cistern. "`[But] my people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water" Jeremiah 2:13
This jewel of a psalm has calmed countless hearts. It is beside the still waters where the Holy Spirit meets His saints, not in the winds and waters of strife, for He cannot lead us to the placid waters if we are rushing ahead of Him. If we don't have the time then we must take the time to be led to the peaceful stream of morning hours with Him. This is when He prepares our hearts for the battles of the day. This is where the victory is won before the battle is engaged: in prayer, seeking our instructions for the day. Come, let us rest awhile by the still waters of His gentleness and concern.
