No Worries

No Worries

Bible Blast: Read Psalm 23

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. Psalm 23:2 (NIV)

I really don’t like snakes.

So I guess if God ever asked me to move to New Zealand, I’d be happy.

Why? Because there are no snakes in New Zealand! I’m totally not kidding.

In fact, it’s against the law for snakes to be in New Zealand. They don’t even have snakes in their zoos! There’s a special group of New Zealanders who are trained to catch snakes in order to keep them out of the country. They search incoming boats and shipments for slithering stowaways.

If I were to lie down in a green pasture, a snake-less New Zealand would be a good place to do it. However, today’s focus verse isn’t necessarily talking about an actual pasture.

David wrote Psalm 23 as if he were a sheep and God was his shepherd. When he writes that God makes him lie down in green pastures, he’s talking about a place of peace, a place with no worries. Hakuna matata. Remember that Swahili phrase from Disney’s The Lion King?

When a sheep folds all four legs underneath its body and lies down, it’s totally at rest. That sheep is enjoying the lush, green grass. It’s not worried about wolves or any other predators. It feels safe. Hakuna matata.

Since we’re God’s “sheep,” too, we don’t need to worry either. It’s not as if we ignore the fact that evil things go on in the world. Not worrying also doesn’t mean we will never be hurt by another person or situation. It does mean that no matter what happens God has our back. He’s totally fighting for us, and it’s not up to us to take the battle into our own hands.

God has such beautiful plans for you. He really wants you to rest and enjoy the world he created. He wants you to lie down in the rich safety of his love for you. Today make a choice not to worry about whatever is on your mind. Let God be the one to take care of it as you trust him.

Girl Gab: If it’s nice outside where you live, go ahead and lie down in the grass with your mom for two minutes. Lay side by side with your eyes closed and don’t say anything. Just think about God taking all your worries while you enjoy his creation. (You can also pretend you’re outside and do this inside on a cushy rug or bed!)