Still water

I was in southern Colombia at an orphanage in the Amazon. A little girl, about the age of my daughter at the time, was walking with her Bible through the yard, and I asked about her favorite verse.

She smiled, opened the worn Bible with pen marks throughout and went to the underlined chapter of Psalm 23.

“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. 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.” Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I stood in amazement.

How could a little girl who had lost her parents when she was young, living in an orphanage, having little material possessions, point to a chapter that begins with “I shall not want?” If anyone has wants, desires, needs, it should be her.

The girl had discovered something that we all long for, still water.

This is everyone’s ultimate desire, right? Without saying it this way, we all long for it. That place where the water is smooth. That place where the pressures are removed. That place where there is peace. That place where the storms of life have subsided.

But how could this little girl have perpetual, still water?

Ever been at the ocean, looked out over the water, and seen pockets of storms spread throughout the horizon? The water may be completely still below us, but we see raging storms all around.

We all have a journey similar to this view. In fact, I am willing to bet that everyone reading this has pockets of storms in their life. The water may be still for a brief moment but there are always approaching storms.

In truth, the water is never still. Storms are perpetual on the journey. I believe the sandwich generation knows this well. The water may be still at the moment, in your own life, but you are never in the boat alone. You are always traveling with your spouse, kids, other family members, close friends, and teammates. As your inner circle increases, storms increase.

As the little girl taught me, storms will always be, they are part of life. The key is who is in the boat with you.

The girl had faced storms and was in a storm that many of us will never know. But, the Shepherd in the boat with her led her to still water, stilled her soul, gave her peace. 

The same is true of us. The Shepherd stills water. In the midst of the storm, never forget, the One who knew the storm was coming is in the boat with you.

And, never miss the people in the boat with you. The little girl had many in the boat with her, helping, providing, walking with her. A great gift for the soul is allowing others to walk with you on the journey. 

The storm may shake you, rock your boat, but always remember the gifts that are with you. Ultimately, the Author promises that He will lead you to still water.

Impact others. Live generously.