“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” ~ Psalm 23:2

I mentioned that this hasn’t been my easiest year.
When you’re a child dreaming of being an adult, no one tells you just how hard and un-fun being a grown up can be.

Oh, sure, it has it’s moments, but as a whole…
Lets just say some days I would quickly trade my bills, stress, and responsibilities for coloring books, naps, and kool-aid.

Some days, I feel I’ve reached my breaking point.
If just one more little thing happens, I’ll snap like a twig.
Some days, I tell God that I just can’t take any more.
Not that I won’t take any more, but I can’t.

As many times as I’ve felt this way, you may be glad I know that I have yet to snap.

Oh, don’t get me wrong.
Things don’t magically disappear.
I’m not instantly transported back to my childhood where my mom can handle all that “grown-up stuff” and I go build a fort with bed sheets and chairs.
I can’t close my eyes, just breathe, and open them up to a completely different set of circumstances.

It doesn’t work that way.
Once you become an adult, you can never go back (which is something else they fail to tell you!).
There are no fairy godmothers with a magic wand in the real world.

But you know what?
I have something infinitely better than a fairy godmother.

I have a Shepherd.

In those moments I feel completely overwhelmed and at my wits end, my Shepherd takes me to green pastures and still waters.
He calms me and gives me exactly what I need to go on.

There is strength and sustenance found in those healthy, green pastures that cannot be found in dry, patchy areas.

When the waters are rough and dark and moving quickly, it can be incredibly frightening.
I need those calm, still waters to be able to feel safe, drink, and be refreshed.

My ever-observant Shepherd knows exactly what I need and always delivers right on time.

When I feel about to snap, I find myself in green pastures.
When I don’t know how I’ll make it through the day, He leads me to those peaceful, still waters.

Only another child of God will understand when I say that even when nothing changes, everything is different.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

And I’m thankful.