When the stream is flowing, life is nourished by its refreshing waters. The stream itself is alive and there is something reassuring about lying down beside those still waters. The promise of the Shepherd is made complete there, and we are at peace.
How quickly that security departs when the stream seems to dry up. Fear sprouts where faith once grew and doubt begins to remove life from our spirits. We wonder why our Provider abandoned us. “What will happen to me now?” we ask ourselves and we question why we let ourselves trust in the first place.
It is in these dry seasons that we need to look deeper and further ask ourselves, “Is there a bigger picture than I can see right now?” We were not foolish to trust in God, but there is something for us to learn in this moment.
An insight into that lesson can be seen in the nurture and provision of the eagle for its young. When the time comes for eaglet to fly, Its mother takes some very bold action to motivate this new step in her young one’s life. This majestic bird which builds one of the most comfortable nest of all the birds, begins to remove the softness of the nest and allow the eaglet to feel the pokes and prods of the twigs that formed the framework for its rest. By making the only home this baby knew so uncomfortable, the mother is lovingly motivating the little one to take one of the most important steps in its life. It is a step that will lead to what it was made to do.
In a similar way, when our stream dries up, God may be asking us to take a step into a deeper relationship with Him. Instead of simply resting by the stream, we are being called to the Source. Where once our goal involved seeking the hand of God to provide the things we need, now we are growing into people who will seek His face for relationship with Him. What seems like neglect, as if we were forgotten, is actually the exact opposite. God is so interested in us, that He is leading us into a more mature experience of Him.
In the classic text of the Twenty-third Psalm, the psalmist reminds us that our Shepherd takes us to green pastures and still waters as He restores our soul. We like that part. It is good news in the midst of a chaotic world to have the promise of divine renewal and provision. However, before the psalm ends, we are reminded of God’s promise to be with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. Clearly, it will not always be about basking in natural beauty while everything is delivered to us with ease. Parts of the journey will be challenging, but the Shepherd will be with us no matter where we are.
The real promise of the psalm and, for that matter, all of Scripture is not of easy days by the river, but the promise of the presence of God Himself. God promises us, God. He commits Himself to an intimate relationship with us that goes beyond all expectation. He loves us so much that He is willing, like the mother eagle, to create discomfort in order for us to learn to soar. He will permit the stream to dry so that we will seek the Source and know the power, perspective and providence of our God.
Wherever you are on the journey, experiencing the refreshing of the stream or seeking fresh water in a dry time, you are not alone. Both seasons are part of the rhythm of the life of faith. The most important thing you can do right now, is draw near to God and let Him draw near to you.
