Heavy Wool

Well, we’re in the waiting. Again.

Our family is still in New Zealand, waiting for the many things that need to work together in order for us to continue on to Spain. Frustratingly simple, and yet it pushes me way out of my zone of control.

Surprisingly, I’m still surprised at the surprises along the way. Why haven’t I learnt that this is how this path goes? I should know by now that things will always take more time than expected. The least I could do is be prepared for this eventuality, but it still catches me unawares.

While I wait, I find myself wondering what I’m meant to learn and what God might be showing me in this season. Those are fair thoughts, but they can also make me overlook something obvious: maybe God is just loving us.

Recently, while reading through this psalm, I noticed something profound:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul.”

The picture of God as shepherd is not new; people have been praising his shepherding tendencies for over a millennium. But it was the insight into the sheep that got me on this read. Sheep are interesting creatures. They grow a protective layer of wool that acts as both insulation and protection, keeping them warm in winter, cool in summer, and safe from the natural elements and parasites. This makes sheep capable of surviving quite a range of climates. Wool is good.

But in certain situations, wool can be dangerous, and this is why sheep are afraid of running water. Sheep instinctively know that their heavy, thick wool coat can act as a weight, dragging them down and potentially drowning them if they find themselves out of their depth.

But notice this:

He leads me beside the still waters.

What does a shepherd do? Finds water for his sheep - survival. What does a good shepherd do? Finds water that they are not afraid of - an extra measure of care and love.

God cares for us so much that he’ll find the good water, the water we’re unafraid of, the water that invites us to come find relief without threat of danger or harm.

And here’s the kicker: God is more than capable of saving us from rushing water, but in this psalm David is praising the character of God by declaring that God cares for us in a way that is sometimes simplest for us - relief that is safe.

He’s not always “teaching us a lesson.” Sometimes, he’s just caring for us.

Do you feel like your life is a rush of busyness, complex emotions, and frustrations? Let God lead you to some still water - some peace in the middle of chaos. He knows us well. He knows we need the calm, and he leads us to it. How is he leading you to still waters today?

For me, it is the invitation to sit in a comfy chair, coffee beside me, with the Bible open on my lap. My life can sometimes feel like a giant parental lesson moment, swirling within the whirlwind of motherly responsibility, spousal duties, and work.

But God leads me first beside the still waters. So that’s how I’m facing this current season. There’s no fear, no great big lesson to learn. Just the kindness of a God who knows us well and wants to guide us to rest and relief.