Planting Seeds

This summer I read Goliath Must Fall by Louie Giglio. At the end of the book, Giglio challenges the reader to read Psalm 23 for forty days and nights. I read it through the lens of trying to figure out my next job move focusing more on verses 1-3.

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. 

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

I had a few months to pray about and ponder what I may do next. These verses certainly encouraged and reminded me that God was giving me rest and would lead me for His name's sake.  Little did I know that God was planting seeds for something else. For some reason, I always thought Psalm 23 was written for someone going through death, not for someone grieving the loss of someone.  As a result of Carole's passing, now I read it differently. 

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Carole is in the presence of the LORD, but I'm the one who is walking through the valley of the shadow of death. The good news?  I have One that has been through the valley before me and knows the way out. In fact, He is the Way!

God didn't have to plant the seeds of Psalm 23 but by His grace He did. For forty days Carole and I read Psalm 23. He knew what was ahead for our lives and He began preparing us for it. Praise the LORD for His goodness and grace and the power of hope we have in Him!

Yesterday, I had another reminder of God's presence and how He plants seeds to prepare us for what's next in our lives. As I sat drinking my coffee and looking out of the kitchen window into the backyard, I noticed a reflection in the window of something flapping behind me. The heat was on and air was moving a picture of a Bible verse that Carole had illustrated and taped to the pantry door. With tear filled eyes, I looked around the kitchen and saw several verses that she had posted over the years. Although I had read them many times before, I now read them as seeing how God had always been there and continued to be present in my life. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."

I love how God had surrounded me with words of encouragement...hope, renewal, strength, refuge, and His presence. 

So, what's the takeaway? Slow down. Look around. Listen. God is planting seeds all around you. Don't miss them. He is using them to prepare you.

Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Romans 5:20-21 - "And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."