Day 39: A Time For Soul Restoration

We have begun the 40 day countdown, waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Why bother? Is this actually what most of us wait for these days? As people of faith, or faith curious, maybe it helps to be reminded of the God of our understanding as a way to help us grapple with why we are willing to wait year after year, for the baby Jesus to come and save us.

David, an old testament character is famously remembered as the guy with a heart that longed for God. And other stuff too. He felled a Giant. He became a King. He got in big trouble one summer when he stayed home and had an affair rather than going to war as kings traditionally do. He committed murder to hide his crime in the way politicians handle such things. His kids were a mess. And yet, his heart longed for God.

David expresses his commitment to faith over fear when he cries, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” in Psalm 23. I wonder if this was a cry of calm assurance. Is this a poetic utterance penned while David lounged one day in a green pasture beside still water? Filled to the brim with a restored soul, did David wax eloquently about his confidence in the presence of God and boldly claim His power over evil as a servant of the King of Kings?

Often when I sneak away for an extended break at the beach or in the mountains, my spirit soars as I spend quality time with God, eat good food, sleep whenever I’m in the mood, and play hard. It’s easy to be a spiritual giant in the seclusion of a good vacation with no responsibilities looming on the horizon. It’s my prayer that each of us regularly sets aside time for green pastures, quiet waters, and soul restoration. I trust these times will give us courage, vision, and a renewed strength to be exactly who God sees when He dreams about us.

I suspect that on days like this, all of us cry out, “I’m with you, God! I am not afraid! I can do anything you set before me! I can and will do your good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Perhaps this is exactly how David felt when he wrote this psalm, but perhaps not.

What if the context of this story is far different and more consistent with the year 2020 than an extended vacation at a fancy resort? Stay tuned.