I don't like being shaken. Recently, this summer, I was taken to a little amusement park that we have in Phoenix, Arizona. There in the middle, there is a pirate ship. This boat rocks from side to side until it is almost vertical. The ride starts off slow. You think, "Oh, this isn't so bad." Then it gets higher and faster. You are like, "Wait a minute!" Taking deep breaths, you remind yourself that the ride is bound to end soon. It doesn't. It keeps going until finally you give up and give in to what you want to do. You find yourself doing something that you promised you wouldn't do. You scream in panic and discomfort. Just when you think you can't anymore. It slows. It's too late. You have lost your dignity. You have been shaken. As the ride comes to its inevitable stop, you feel it. It has affected your head and your stomach. You take your first wobbly steps off of the ride and the ground feels different. Sitting down and taking a break is a must. You watch as you see others excited and exhilarated at the thrill. You are forced to take a moment and rest.
Psalm 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me besides the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
In thinking about being shaken, I think about snow globes. I was fascinated with them growing up. Shake it up and turn the music toggle around. This is something that is shaken so that the glitter and bits of snow can be moved about. The thing about snow globes is watching the particles drift slowly back down to the ground. We like to see things settled. I like to see things settled I would wait until every single piece of glitter or snow was still, on the floor, before I would take joy in shaking it up and letting it all float down again. But before I can shake it up again, I wait. I watch. I pause. I rest.
I'm not one who likes to slow down. I like to be up and about and I am usually doing just that. I don't like to wait. I don't like to be still. And yet, when after that ride, I can do nothing but rest. I am made to rest. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. Where? He leads me besides the still waters. Why? He restores my soul. For what reason? He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sack. God has a good plan. I have been shaken. You know it and I know it. Let me not pretend that I haven't been through a hard time. Let me not play it off that it hasn't been difficult. I have been shaken and now I am resting. I'm pausing. I know what my next steps are. I will be lead down a path of righteousness for His name's sake. Not because I deserve anything because I don't. Just because of Who God is. Praise the Lord!!!
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