I was in the kitchen last night fixing dinner when I noticed out my kitchen window a doe had found a quiet resting spot underneath the apple trees over next to the forest. She was so at peace with her legs all stretched out.
I’ve never really seen the does relax with their legs all stretched out. Usually they sit with their legs tucked up under them so they can hop up at a moment’s notice if there is danger. But there she rested.
She sat there all while hubby and I had dinner and when I peeked out to see her after dinner she had her head down on the grass. I’ve never seen a doe rest with her head completely on the grass.
This brought me so much joy that this doe felt safe and at peace to be able to rest in my yard.
I couldn’t help but think what a beautiful picture this is of us resting in God’s love for us … and resting in God’s care for us.
It’s hard to rest.
It’s hard to rest like this.
Life is complicated. We interact daily with people who lie, constantly. Everyone lies. Deep down inside, our soul has turmoil … because lying is not right. We don’t know what to do with the turmoil in our soul.
Life is filled with unfair preferential treatment and unfair favoritism. It seems as if we’re the ones who are always coming out on the short end of things. Our soul is in turmoil … there is a lot of hurt we’re struggling with. We don’t know what to do with the turmoil in our soul.
Reckless words pierce our soul.
Harsh words slash at us, stirring up anger deep down in our soul!
We feel very much what the Psalmist feels when he states: “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. … my heart was grieved and my spirit was embittered.” – Psalm 73:13, 21
Yet the Psalmist continues: “Yet, I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel.” – Psalm 73:23-24
Jesus himself tells us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
And so, we go to Jesus. We open up the Word of God … after all, Jesus’s very name is: the Word of God. (John 1:1)
And in the Word of God we read:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23
“Yes!” we think, “I need to guard my heart. My heart is beginning to get jaded. My heart is beginning to get disillusioned. My heart is woefully tempted towards bitterness. My heart wants to give up. My heart wants to ‘silently quit.’ Yes! I need to guard my heart!”
And in that moment, we feel God’s peace. God is recognizing with us the turmoil in our soul … and the need to still it. And we are comforted.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23
We keep reading in the Word of God:
“A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” – Proverbs 15:4 And we think: “Yes! Absolutely! My spirit has been crushed by a deceitful tongue. Yes, that’s true!”
“A harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1 And we think: “Yes! Harsh words have been spoken, and they have stirred up a lot of anger deep down in my soul. Yes, that’s true!”
“Reckless words pierce like a sword.” – Proverbs 12:18 And we think: “Yes! Reckless words have pierced my soul like a sword! My soul is very wounded from so many reckless words. Yes, that’s true!”
And as we read, we feel God’s peace. God is recognizing with us and acknowledging the hurt we have been feeling … and the why behind the turmoil in our soul. God is acknowledging that this behavior is wrong! And our soul is comforted. We find rest.
We keep reading:
“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” – Proverbs 15:3
Once again, we feel God’s peace. God is letting us know that he sees. He sees everything … and he knows exactly what is going on. And our soul is comforted. We find rest.
We keep reading:
“A prudent person overlooks an insult.” – Proverbs 12:16
God had told us he knows exactly what is going on, and he instructs us to overlook the insult. We are instructed to “let it go.” Just because we overlook it and “let it go” that doesn’t mean the wrong behavior is excused. God will deal with the wrong behavior. Our responsibility is to overlook the insult … and to “let it go.”
“A gentle answer turns away wrath.” – Proverbs 15:1
God knows exactly what is going on. He instructs us to respond with gentleness rather than anger. God will deal with the wrong behavior. Our responsibility is to be kind.
As we read God’s instructions for us, our soul is comforted. And we find rest.
We keep reading:
“The LORD detests lying lips.” – Proverbs 12:22
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and the person who pours out lies will not go free.” – Proverbs 19:5
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and the person who pours out lies will perish.” – Proverbs 19:9
Our soul is comforted … because God is acknowledging that this behavior is wrong! And God is letting us know that he will take care of it!
Our soul is comforted. And we find rest.
We keep reading:
“The LORD abhors dishonest scales.” – Proverbs 11:1
“The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.” – Proverbs 20:23
“Differing weights and differing measures – the LORD detests them both.” – Proverbs 20:10
Our soul is comforted … because God is acknowledging that the unfair preferential treatment and the unfair favoritism is wrong! God is acknowledging that the double standard is wrong! God is acknowledging that the cheating is wrong! God is acknowledging that the stealing is wrong! God is acknowledging that the dishonesty is wrong! And God is letting us know that he will take care of it!
He even reiterates: “Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.” – Proverbs 20:22
Our soul is comforted. And we find rest.
God further tells us:
“Do not fret because of evil people or be envious of the wicked.” – Proverbs 24:19
“It is from the LORD that a person gets justice.” – Proverbs 29:26
“Whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” – Proverbs 29:25
“God is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” – Proverbs 30:5
And just like the deer resting in my yard, at complete peace with her head resting on the grass … so too we can find peace and we can rest because God will take care of us!
God will deal with all liars and all lying.
God will deal with the injustice.
Our soul finds comfort. Our soul finds peace. Our soul finds rest. We rest in the Lord our God.
