I Shall Not Want

The house is quiet.  The kids are sleeping in.  It is a good time to focus on God and do a bit of writing.  Today I was reading Psalm 23.  The Psalm that is most likely to be found during a funeral service.  Although, I am not sure why.  I mean, I know that the end talks about "dwelling in the house of the LORD", but the rest really is about living, not dying.

What really struck me today was this portion:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. (Ps. 23:1-3)

We have had a stressful week.  Our garage out back is finished.  The landlords came over and told us it would be an extra $150/month to rent it.  It was not an option to NOT rent the garage.  So, we were stuck.  Jonathan got them down to $100/month extra, which is still a lot for us, since I am not working.  Thus, I have been scouring the ads, looking for part-time employment.  Something to give us a bit of extra cash.

More importantly, I have been worrying.  It's what I do best, which is what God does not want me to do.  It says so in the Bible:

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.(Matthew 6:31-34)

It is hard not to worry.  It is hard to give it to God and let Him deal with it.  Hard, hard, hard.  And yet, we just did a lesson on this for Family Night.  I have a "No Worries" jar right beside me.  I do.  I need to practice this for myself as well as for my children.  I am their best example of this.  They need to see the truth of this in action.

Then this morning, reading the above passage in Psalm 23.  God is MY SHEPHERD.  What does a shepherd do?  He tends his sheep, making sure they are fed and watered.  Keeping them safe and leading them where they need to go.  Comforting them.  He may not give them what they think they need, or what they want.  He knows what is best.  He is their shepherd, after all.  WE ARE SHEEP.  It is comforting to know that God cares enough about me to provide for me.  I will rest in that.

Plus, just because God is not giving us everything the we want, doesn't mean it is all bad.  God will provide what we need, but:

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  (Psalm 23:6)

That will be awesome!!