Discovery Worship: Beside Still Waters

Living in the land of ten thousand lakes never gets old. I love sitting on the deck at the cabin early in the morning as the sun comes up, listening to the loons on the lake, or canoeing through the reeds along some channel where the water is clear and quiet. I drive past a few small lakes on my way to work each day, and I often enjoy seeing a Blue Heron or a few Canadian Geese in the water.

The lakes were particularly beautiful on my drive this morning. The water was as still as I've ever seen it, smooth as glass, perfect and undisturbed. The scene was so beautiful, I altered my route to work and got off on a small county road so I could skirt along the edge one of the lakes. The water was so clear and still, I wanted to just stop and take it all in for as long as it would last.

The scene reminded me of the familiar words 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. -- Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV)

I've always thought of this passage as a promise of rest, of refuge from the storms of life. I imagine being on the boat with the disciples as the furious storm comes up on the lake. Jesus gets up from his sleep to rebuke the wind and the waves and suddenly all is calm, the waters are still.

I know that Jesus can calm the storm, leading me beside still waters, and I hold tightly to the promise of these verses. What I hadn't considered until today, however, was how the still waters testify to the glory of God.

Driving north this morning, with the lake to my right, the sun was barely up behind the trees on the opposite shore. In a mirrored reflection, the trees reached down into the lake, taking the blue sky with them. The reflection was more perfect and magnificent than any photo or painting could ever capture. Taking in the scene, I realized this truth: still waters reflect the glory of God.

You may be facing storms in your life today, and you long for the promise of still waters. Know that God can deliver calm in the midst of your storm, and he can still the waters at his command. And when the waves die down down and the wind ceases to blow, His glory will be revealed in all of its wonder. All He asks in return is for your love.