The frustrating thing about being in the wilderness is that it seems to last longer than seasons in the valley! It’s a barren, dry, and desolate place where it’s easy to feel alone. You might have experienced this at some point in your life, or maybe you’re going through this right now. Do you ever find yourself wondering what you’re supposed to be doing while you’re “waiting on God”? It’s important to understand what HE is doing during these times.
Psalm 23:1-6 is an encouragement and reminder that God is working behind the scenes: “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. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake…” This will replenish your soul in a way that only God can.
While many people automatically keep going without rest during difficult times, others shut down and become emotionally and spiritually paralyzed. When you have the chance to lie down and rest, walk beside still water, this brings peace and is a healthy medium between two extremes. If you think you need to just keep going without rest, you’re not going get where you’re going (or get things done with excellence). And on the other extreme, you’re not going to get where you’re going if you lose all motivation.
There are different levels of fatigue. You can be tired, easily fixed by a nap or a solid night’s sleep. And then there’s exhaustion, something you might feel there’s no relief from. When you find yourself physically or spiritually exhausted, remember Psalm 23 and believe you’re going to have a rejuvenating encounter with God!
Even if you can’t feel or see what God is doing, He loves and cares for you. While God doesn’t always do things in your idea of perfect timing or answer prayers the exact way you’d like, He does hear and answer you. And remember—you’re never actually waiting on God; He’s always moving!