Well before the world was overwhelmed with the Coronavirus, I found myself overwhelmed with fear that God would not provide for me. My need to control financial security and my own provisioning has become an idol in my life – an idol I have blatantly refused to lay down on the altar before Jesus.
And now, in light of the turmoil the world is currently facing, I've found it even more difficult to trust God with my job, finances, and future. It all sounds so cliche, but maybe you feel the same way?
In my reading of Psalm 23, I found the opening line to be quite compelling. Take a look at it in a few different translations.
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing" (NIV)
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need" (NLT)
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (ESV)
This verse, regardless of translation, reveals something really important: you are not in control. You are not your own shepherd. Do you actually believe in your heart that the Lord is your Shepherd and that you will have all that you need, lacking nothing, without want for more?
I honestly find this a hard reality to accept simply because it seems too good to be true! But it isn’t too good to be true. The truth is that Psalm 23 reveals how God is so gracious towards us, despite how undeserving we are! He graciously invites us to rest in His provision and protection. We are invited to rest despite our disbelief, anxiety, and tendency to want to control our own situations.
I encourage you to lay down your fears, let go of control, and pick up the rest He lays before us. Remember that His burden is easy and His yolk is light. May the looming earthly pandemic, sense of crisis, fear, and uncertain circumstances not cause us to be self-reliant and in turn, shy away from Jesus. But rather, may this season be an opportunity for us to press into the promises of God and His gift of rest. We are called to trust Him in the midst of it all.
I lack nothing.
I have all that I need.
I shall not want.
-Allie