Good morning…
In my early morning hours, why has God been teaching me about boundaries? Boundaries seem like such a human construct, such a worldly theory, such a man made model for heathy living. Why focus my quiet time on boundaries, LORD?
I sense God saying, “It is time to exchange your boundaries for My boundaries. As I melt your layers of self-protection, obsolete are the walls you erected in fear to keep yourself safe. Now trust Me to protect you. Now trust Me to gift you with all that gives life. Now trust Me to keep deadly harm out and to allow sweet healing in, day after day after day.”
I argue back, “But there is so much pain in this flawed world. There is crime and cancer, slander and selfishness, death and depression. Shedding my self-protective shell, how will I stay safe amid all this pain?”
The LORD knows my needs more keenly than I do. My Heavenly Father scouts ahead and graciously guides me toward all that is good. God shields me in my suffering and showers me with healing power. As I rest in this realization, I am drawn back to the peaceful protection of the 23rd Psalm, a Psalm brought to life beautifully in the message translation.
God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies (like crime and cancer, slander and selfishness, death and depression).
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
When I leave the protection of God’s safe home, venturing off to do tackle life on my own terms, anxiety plagues me and I can not catch my breath. When I go rogue in the wrong direction, I live in fear. Yet when I relax into God’s protective boundary of care, I trust my LORD who walks beside me. I trust my Savior who serves me six-course meals in the presence of life’s pain. I trust the Holy Spirit who chases me constantly with beauty and unconditional love every day of my eternal life.
Bound to God, my safe shepherd, I need nothing more.
…Sue…
