A good rest is better than anything (Psalm 23) 200607
This is one of the very popular text in the Bible. It speaks of the Lord as our shepherd and how He gives us rest in green pastures and beside quiet water. He is the restorer of our soul, the Guide to righteousness, and He walks with us when we are going through the difficult times and facing challenges from our enemies. He is also our comforter when we are weak and needed encouragement in our walk with Him. This is a very beautiful psalm. Many people like this psalm, so am I.
The reason that many people like this psalm because it gives them a sense of comfort and hope. It encourages them to carry on the journey of faith and reassures them God’s goodness and faithfulness. Some people like this psalm because it is very refreshing. It renewed our hope and strengthened our inner being. And some people will like the psalm like me, because it is about resting. It is about the Shepherd leading His sheep, that is me, to a resting place. Green pastures and quiet water are perfect place for resting. No agenda, no guilt, no shame, no program, no plan, but only resting.
I experienced this a few days ago. I went for a leaders retreat with my church leaders from Covenant Presbyterian Church. That is my home church. I went with a weary heart and an almost burnt out body. The last two months was extremely challenging and stressful for me. It was at the end of my semester when I got to know that my wife was pregnant and at the same time she experienced spotting. I was helpless, but just prayed. But at the same time as I had to take care of my wife and all the house chores, I had to try to complete my term assignments and prepared for examination. I still have to attend classes and my ministry works did not stop for my situation, both in churches and in college.
My commitment to my attachment church youth group, the BBGB ministry with my home church, my cell group with some of them also in their midst of life transitions, and my responsibility as the chairman of the Student Council; stretched me to a point where I had not experienced before. When the term holiday so call started, I was still owing my lecturer many assignments, coupled with my laptop decided to go into coma for that period, I was merely staying home trying to read and complete those assignments. It was disrupted by BBGB officers retreat, BBGB 3 days activities, Hebron Church 3 days Children Camp, planning for my attachment church 4 days youth retreats and preaching preparation for last Sunday just before going to the leaders retreat; I can imagine how tired I can be, just even as I am trying to recall them. And I am sure I have missed out some that is not mentioned.
I am not trying to boast how capable I am in handling so many things. I am just simply regretting for not allowing myself time to rest. I thank God for the leaders retreat. I thank God for my Senior Pastor for not bothering me when he found me missing from most of the sessions. I just sleep and swim and shop and slack through out the entire retreat. I found myself so tired that I don’t even want to spend time with people, I found that drains me too. I was like the sheep in the psalm, lying down in green pastures (before a wide spread of buffet) and soaking myself in the swimming pool or spa. It was refreshing! Renewing! Rejuvenated! It is a Retreat for me!
A big thank you for my church leadership for being so understanding. I am now recharged, ready to go again. I am still facing my challenges ahead, my wife is still in pregnancy! My home PC is infected with virus, and I am now busy preparing for college new students matters (as I am still the chairman of the Student Council), I getting ready for BBGB ministry, new attachment church and the future of the cell group. But I am confident that God is with me, His goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life (v6).
Take time to rest too.
