David mentions in this Psalm how the Lord makes him to lie down in green pastures. Sometimes it seems there is no real rest.

Now there is a difference between rest and sleep. There are some people that the more they sleep, the less rest they get. When I was in college, a kind couple would have me over for breakfast and there was a guy living there who slept most of the day. One day, he was so tired from his long night of sleep that when they handed him the eggs, he just started eating out of the bowl! While that man seemed to get a lot of sleep, he obviously didn’t get a lot of rest.

The green pastures represent the love of God. When we realize His love, we can rest in His goodness. Not just sleep in His goodness but rest in His goodness. Sheep get no rest if they lay beside turbulent waters. They keep hearing the noise and it scares them. It is only when the shepherd leads them beside still waters that they can truly rest.

Sometimes that rest will come in the middle of a terrible storm. It is a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and a peace that will add to the happiness in your life.

God wants to lead you beside His still waters and in His green pastures. Will you follow the Almighty Shepherd?