“He makes me to lie down in green pastures…”
Psalm 23:2
While in England I was helping a friend renovate his kitchen, as I looked up from my work I noticed through the front window that just across the street from his house was a field of sheep hanging out. As it started to rain I watched as the sheep gathered and knelt in their little groups; in the midst of what I would call, “inconvenient weather” the sheep rested peacefully.
As we continue to track with David we watch as he speaks of lying in the green pastures of life. This is the entrance to the field of his circumstances, the fellowship of his flock, and the compelling sensations of rest that are found in the inconvenient moments.
What inconvenient moments? You might wonder.
Isn’t Psalm 23 the great psalm of serenity, isn’t it the “go to guy” for relaxation and peace?
What’s this “inconvenient moments” business you speak of, Dan?
The verb “to lie” in the Hebrew is literally translated “to be stretched out”. So too, when the atmosphere of our situation begins to be a bit overcast, and the rain begins to come down it’s natural as sheep to lie down, and be stretched out a bit. That’s exactly what trials do to us, they stretch us out. However, as our faith is stretched and we are brought to our knees the pasture looks a little greener, and our weary bones find a bit of rest. You see we can look at the present condition of our pasture as a burden or we can see it as a blessing. The Good Shepherd brings us to the green pasture and we can choose to focus on the bitter root or we can chew on the greener grass.
When the climate takes a turn for the worse we are being molded into the best of God’s image. We can rest or we can be restless, it’s up to us, either way the storm will eventually pass, and when we rise we will have had the opportunity to be fully rested, renewed in our faith, and reminded that “He makes us to lie down”
So enjoy it and be blessed.
Vinnie added these pithy words on 
