You Chart My Path, O God

You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to stop and rest. You both precede and follow me, and place your hand of blessing on my head(Psalm 139:3, 5, The Book).

I’ve never been big on resting . . . I’m a doer and a goer.
I’m a mobile, get-it-done kind of woman. I’m a Martha (Luke 10:38-41). So, when the Lord makes me stop and rest, it is a bit chafing. I feel as though I’m not accomplishing anything. And like Martha, I feel intensely the need to accomplish something.

After all, things can’t get done unless I make them happen—right? But God isn’t impressed with my ability to do and go. He will get His work done without me. Ouch!

Oh, He uses His people, but He has a plan that He will fulfill without me (or you) making it happen. That should keep us humble. Most important to God is each individual relationship, not what that individual does for Him. God isn’t impressed with how much we can do for Him. He is impressed with how much we understand and know Him.

“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23-24, emphasis added).

Shepherd as used in this verse is Jehovah-Raah and it means to rule, with a focus on care and concern. Just like a mother will set bedtimes for her children because she understands the need for rest, God sets times for rest in our lives as well. The more we wiggle and squirm and chafe in our resting times the longer they will be. We need rest, and we must learn to take our rest times as God provides them, without squirming and chafing.

When He makes us rest, it is with the loving concern of a Father. We must understand Him, know Him, and love Him, so that we accept His decision by faith.Like David, we are to understand that our Shepherd provides everything we need. He leads us to His resting place in the meadow and quiet streams.

He will supply strength so that we may honor Him. But we must trust Him. And to trust Him we must know Him and understand Him. The only way for us to gain understanding (correct insight) and have faith knowledge is by spending time in His Word.

If we’re fidgeting and chafing, we’re not resting, and like a good parent, God won’t let us get up until we rest. If we’re fidgeting and chafing, we’re not trusting.
To trust is to rest in God’s provision for the moment. God has promised to provide all that we need for today. He has not promised to provide today what we will need tomorrow. He will provide tomorrow what we need for tomorrow.

Jesus said: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34).

When we seek first His kingdom we will not worry. Our focus will be on Him. When we focus on Jesus, everything else becomes insignificant. It is amazing how little this world means to us when we focus our sights on Jesus and the next life.

The Author of Hebrews exhorted us: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3, emphasis added).

Let me ask you, my friend. Are you fidgeting and chafing where God has you right now? Have you grown weary and are you losing heart? Are you a Martha, a get-it-done kind of person?

You can rest. But it is a choice. God knows what He’s doing. He knows where you are, and He knows what you need right now. Even if you’re not in a place of rest, God still has you right where you are, and He expects you to rest there.

“You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to stop and rest. You both precede and follow me, and place your hand of blessing on my head” (Psalm 139:3, 5).

Think about it.
The Sovereign Creator of all things has mapped out your life ahead of you. Fidgeting and chafing does nothing, except hurt you and the heart of God. The same God Who knitted you together in your mother’s womb has placed His hand of blessing on your head. How great is that?

God has charted your path. So rest dear friend, rest. . . .

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Recommended Reading
Psalm 5:3
Psalm 27:14
Psalm 33:20
Psalm 37:7, 34
Psalm 38:15
Psalm 106:13